OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 19: Olden Polynice #30 of the Los Angeles Clippers watches the action from the bench during the NBA preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at The Arena in Oakland on October 19, 2003 in Oakland, California. The Warriors won 93-69. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Olden Polynice with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2003 (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS (105.3 THE FAN) — Former NBA center Olden Polynice had multiple stints with the Los Angeles Clippers since the early 90s.
So Tuesday’s news conference, in which league commissioner Adam Silver banned Clippers owner Donald Sterling, came as no surprise to the NBA veteran.
“When I heard it, I was like, ‘Man, he finally got caught,'” said Polynice. “My surprise was not from his words, just the fact that he allowed himself to be recorded. It wasn’t new, cause we had heard similar stuff in the past that he was racist — specifically that he didn’t like blacks and Mexicans.”
In his appearance on 105.3 The Fan’s New School with Shan & RJ on Wednesday, Polynice discussed his personal experiences with Sterling in LA.
Polynice says that Sterling would often bring his friends into the team locker room following games — primarily to show off his players.
“[Sterling] would just walk by you and feel on your shoulders and on your backs — touch your leg. ‘Look at this buck right here.’ And I’m like, did he just call me a buck?”
Polynice says Tuesday’s punishment was at least 30 years in the making, but the league was never able to identify a smoking gun.
“I think he’s a lost soul, to be honest. He’s not like a malicious racist, using the ‘N’ word all the time. He doesn’t do that. He’s more confused in my opinion than anything else.”
