Defiant Donald Sterling goes on attack against 'despicable' NBA

Sterling vows to block sale of the LA Clippers and will sue the NBA

Donald Sterling's punishment is the most severe ever handed down to a team owner (Getty Images)

Embattled LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was banned from the NBA for making racist comments, launched an attack on the League last night branding officials "bullies" and "despicable monsters".

In a statement, the 80-year old accused the NBA of violating his constitutional rights by forcing the sale of the franchise in an effort to conceal its own "repulsive conduct".

"I also feel that the leadership of the NBA is incompetent, inexperienced and angry." he said. "It is clear that they took this opportunity to settle the personal grievances they have harboured against me for years."

Sterling went on to accuse NBA commissioner Adam Silver of being far more interested in signing autographs for TMZ, the American gossip website, than resolving the League's problems and "discriminatory" practices.

"The NBA continues to thrive and exact its reign of terror in large part from the money it receives from the fans. The NBA is a band of hypocrites and bullies. They will not stop until someone stands up," he added.

On Monday, Sterling pulled out of a record $2bn record deal brokered by his estranged wife, Shelly Sterling, to sell the Clippers to Microsoft's former chief executive Steve Ballmer.

The mogul also vowed to sue the NBA for a massive $1bn for breach of contract and violating anti-trust laws for forcing the sale and using what he claims is an "illegal" recording to oust him. It is understood Sterling backtracked after the NBA declined to revoke his lifetime ban.

Back in April, Mr Sterling sparked outrage after he was caught making racist comments in an explosive conversation with former girlfriend V. Stiviano where he told her not to bring black men to basketball games or "associate herself" with black people.

"You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it… and not to bring them to my games," he could be heard saying in the tape obtained by gossip website, TMZ.

He then sparked further uproar when he claimed basketball legend Earvin 'Magic' Johnson "should be ashamed of himself" for having HIV during his first interview with CNN after the scandal broke.

Sterling has banned from the NBA for life and will have to pay a $2.5 million fine, the most severe punishment ever handed down to a team owner, for his "offensive and harmful" remarks.