Pope of Basketball.

Summary

The Clippers began their away game journey on December 7, facing the Cavaliers, during which players expressed discontent with their boss's racist remarks by wearing warm-up jerseys inside out and black accessories. Yang Rui criticized this as a weak protest, believing they should be more vocal. The team, having not trained for two days, lost the game 98-105, ending their winning streak. Yang Rui took responsibility for the loss, emphasizing the need to focus on the game and fans rather than internal issues. Following the game, NBA President David Stern announced that Sterling was banned from all Clippers and NBA-related activities and fined $2.5 million. The Clippers then won against the 76ers, buoyed by Sterling's punishment. Stern urged the NBA board to force Sterling to sell the team, which drew support from President Obama and other figures. The Clippers players supported this decision, while Sterling, who previously refused to sell, was now pressured to do so. The incident sparked significant reactions, and Sterling's financial stability was threatened due to a revenue-sharing agreement among NBA teams. As media reported on the potential sale, it was suggested that if 75% of the NBA board voted in favor, Sterling would have to sell. Despite conspiracy theories, it was clear that Sterling's own actions led to his downfall. The Clippers continued to perform well, with players protesting through their attire. Yang Rui observed Griffin's inconsistent performance, noting that while Griffin had impressive season averages, he struggled in critical moments. Yang Rui was concerned about Griffin's playstyle and the team's dynamics without Chris Paul.

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