Shelly Sterling says she supports NBA appointing new Clippers CEO

Clippers co-owner Shelly Sterling released a statement before Game 7 of her team’s first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday saying she supported the NBA’s move to work with the franchise to appoint a new CEO.

“I spoke with Commissioner Adam Silver this week to tell him that I fully supported his recent swift and decisive action,” Shelly Sterling said in the statement. “We also agreed at that time that, as a next step, both the league and the team should work together to find some fresh, accomplished executive leadership for the Clippers. I welcome his active involvement in the search for a person of the utmost character, proven excellence and a commitment to promoting equality and inclusiveness.

“As a co-owner, I am fully committed to taking the necessary steps to make the Clippers the best team in the NBA. That has been my aspiration ever since 1981.”

The NBA released a statement earlier Saturday saying it had already begun the process of identifying a new CEO for the Clippers after co-owner Donald Sterling received a lifetime ban from the team Tuesday for his disparaging remarks about blacks.

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers, who was preparing his team to play the final game of the Western Conference best-of-seven series, was asked whether he’d rather the league wait until the series was over before they made the announcement.

“We talk about everything else. So let’s just talk about that too,” Rivers said, smiling. “The NBA has to do their job. They have a lot on their plate as well and I don’t think it’s something that they can wait on. They are going to do their job.”

Rivers said he hadn’t been consulted about who might be named the chief executive.

He said he had talked to Silver.

“I kind of know they are going to do the search right now,” Rivers said, “and that’s about it.”