That'll be an interesting argument in court. Because the "instrumental cause" of the penalty WAS INDEED his statement...gotten under suspicious circumstances at best.
If allowed to stand, Sterling's lawyers could argue, then the entire Constitution is null and void--the "best interest" of the league could mean Sterling farted in an elevator and upset some sponsors.
Do you think the NBA owners want to put that kind of power into one man's hands?
LaBron threatened to not play.... that threat probably hurt the league in some way too. Players getting arrested for being thugs are bad for their image too, right? Did they ban Jay-Z and his anti-white racist buddies?
Little late now since they all signed off on the Constitution and the by-laws.