Scandals, intrigues, and investigations are an integral part of big sports. Today we will remember a few conflicts that blackened the history of the NBA.
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Kobe Bryant scandal
In the early 2000s, Kobe Bryant had already become an NBA superstar, representing the Los Angeles Lakers team. Paired with Shaquille O’Neal, he won three consecutive championships, leaving his mark in the history of the league. However, at that time there was a scandal: a 19-year-old female hotel employee in Edwards, Colorado, accused him of rape. The girl immediately went to the police. Bryant held a press conference at which he admitted that he had sex with the woman but claimed that it was consensual. His wife Vanessa was by his side at the time.
The criminal case against Kobe Bryant began in July 2003 and ended on 1 September 2004 when the victim refused to testify in court. However, Kobe still had a civil suit pending. As a result of his remorse, the parties were able to reach a settlement out of court. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers basketball player paid the girl an amount in excess of $2.5 million. This has certainly had an impact on his game. Although Bryant remained an outstanding player on the court, the scandal and the growing conflict with Shaquille O’Neal over the team’s top star status were probably the reasons why the Lakers failed to win four consecutive championships despite a strong roster.
Golden State and the fight between Green and Poole
Almost before the start of the 2022/2023 season, after the Golden State Warriors won the NBA title, Draymond Green punched his teammate Jordan Poole in the face at one of the practices. The legendary Green took an anger management course, but as time has shown, it hasn’t had much of an impact—he continues to play in the NBA with an aggressive style. Back to that incident. ‘Warriors’ won the championship title; there was incredible “chemistry” in the team; everyone was ready to give everything for the sake of a partner. However, this incident divided Golden State into ‘before’ and ‘after’. The team under Stephen Curry lost its reputation as a cohesive unit.
Donald Sterling and the Clippers
In 1981, Donald Sterling purchased the San Diego Clippers for $12.5 million. The new owner promised to invest heavily so that the team could compete for a championship. In 1984, the Clippers moved to Los Angeles, becoming the second club in that city. However, they are remembered not so much for their sporting achievements as for the behaviour of their owner. In 1996, Sterling faced allegations of harassment from his real estate consultant, Christine Jesky. In 2003, another woman sued him for sexual harassment. The Clippers owner was able to reach an out-of-court settlement with the first plaintiff, while the second lost the case.
However, all previous incidents pale in comparison to the events of 2014, when a conversation between the Clippers owner and his mistress became known. She posted a picture on social media with the legendary Magic Johnson, and in the recording, he can be heard expressing his concerns, ‘It really bothers me that you want to show off your interactions with Black people. Why would you want to do that? You can spend time with them and do whatever you want. But I’m asking you—don’t advertise it and don’t bring them to my games.’
The girl reminded Donald that most of the Clippers players are Black. To this he replied, ‘I support them, provide food, clothing, cars, and housing. Who else does that? Who creates the ‘game’? Me or them?’ This conversation took place during the playoffs with Golden State. The Clippers players seriously considered boycotting not only game four but the entire series. In the end, they decided to protest by coming out to practice before the game wearing t-shirts with their logos upside down and then throwing them into the centre of the court, thus covering the club’s symbol.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver fined Sterling $2.5 million and suspended him from any league activity, forcing the owner to sell the team. The club was bought by billionaire Steve Ballmer, who previously served as CEO of Microsoft alongside Bill Gates. Under the new owner, the Clippers were able to breathe freely, free from the power of a deranged racist.
