Donald Sterling has filed a lawsuit against the NBA seeking $1bn (£600m) in damages following the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The 80-year-old team owner was banned by the league after being recorded making racist comments, resulting in his wife agreeing a $2bn (£1.2bn) sale of the team to former Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer.
NBA executive vice president Rick Buchanan told ESPN: "Mr Sterling's lawsuit is predictable, but entirely baseless. Among other infirmities, there was no 'forced sale' of his team by the NBA, which means his antitrust and conversion claims are completely invalid.
"Since it was his wife Shelly Sterling, and not the NBA, that has entered into an agreement to sell the Clippers, Mr Sterling is complaining about a set of facts that doesn't even exist."
As part of terms of the sale, Mrs Sterling agreed that she and the Sterling Family Trust would not sue the NBA and absolve the league of litigation by others, including her husband.
Sian Cowper
