Doc Rivers releases official statement regarding Donald Sterling

Following Clippers owner Donald Sterling's comments this weekend, Clippers Head Coach and Senior VP of Basketball Operations Doc Rivers has released an official statement.

It's phrased exactly how you'd assume a statement from Doc Rivers would be- handled with care in lieu of such an ugly and embarrassing series of events.

Doc Rivers won a World Championship with the Celtics in 2008 and will hopefully win titles again no matter where he coaches. Amongst titles and accolades already accumulated and the many more he is sure to collect, how he handles the next few weeks will be right up there with how his career is defined.

Lots of people have wondered over the last few days if Doc would prefer to be back in Boston given the "alleged" comments by Clippers owner Donald Sterling, and I'm sure part of him does- no one wants to work for a guy like that. But it is my opinion that a bigger part of Doc Rivers knows there is no place he would rather be- where his influence, leadership, and expertise is needed most.
April 28, 2014 – Los Angeles Clippers Head Coach and Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Doc Rivers issued the following statement today on behalf of the organization:

“I would like to reiterate how disappointed I am in the comments attributed to [Donald Sterling] and I can’t even begin to tell you how upset I am and our players are. Today, I had a meeting with the members of our organization. When you are around all these people, you realize they are just as upset and embarrassed by the situation and it does not reflect who they really are. That was what I got from all of them. They are now a part of this and they are upset at this. But, they are all going to hang in there and so are we - I can tell you that as a group and as a team. From our fans’ standpoint, I want to say that they have been amazing, I can tell you that. We need unbelievable support right now from other people and I’m hoping we get that. My hope is that whatever the fans do, it is as one. I think that is what we all should do.

“We want to make the right decisions here. We’re doing our very best to try and do that. We know that fans are in a dilemma as well. We want them to cheer for their players and their team. It will always be their players and their team. From the fans that I have heard from, that’s how they feel. ‘This is my team. These are my players that I’m cheering for and that’s not going to change.’ I hope STAPLES Center is packed and people are cheering for the players. The players are now in the middle of this, and they have to deal with it.

“We are all trying to figure out everything as it goes and just do our best and we hope that it is the right answer. I’m still going to do my best and do what I think is best for the team and for everybody in this case. It is very difficult because there are so many emotions in this. This is a very emotional subject, this is personal.

“My belief is that the longer we keep winning, the more we talk about this. I believe that is good. If we want to make a statement - I believe that is how we have to do it. I think that is the right way to do it, but that doesn’t mean we still don’t wrestle with it every day and every moment. That is the difficult part.

“We are all doing our best here. Our players are doing their best. There are a lot of people involved in this. From one man’s comments, a lot of people have been affected and the conversations that we’re all having do need to be had.”

Via: NBA.com

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