Ex Clippers GM Baylor's deposition describes owner's alleged racial remarks

Former Los Angeles Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor described how Clippers owner Donald Sterling preferred black players over whites, but felt just the opposite when it came to his coaches, in a deposition related to his lawsuit against the team.

Team officials said Baylor resigned in October 2008 after 22 years as general manager. However, in his suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in February 2009, Baylor claimed he was "discriminated against and unceremoniously released from his position with the team on account of his age and his race.''

Baylor also claims he was "grossly underpaid during his tenure with the Clippers, never earning more than $350,000 per year, when compared with the compensation scheme for general managers employed by every other team in the NBA.''

In the deposition given in December, the 75-year-old Baylor stated the subject of player race came up when the team was considering drafting Joe Wolf in 1987.

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"I remember Joe Wolf who happened to be a white player and (Baylor) said he didn't particularly like white players,'' Baylor stated.

Sterling preferred black players, according to Baylor.

"He figured the white players break down too easily,'' Baylor said.

"He said that black players were more aggressive, bigger and stronger.''

However, the Clippers ultimately chose Wolf as the 13th overall pick in that year's draft. He went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA, averaging 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Baylor further said that after Bill Fitch's firing as coach in 1998 he recommended that assistant coach Jim Brewer, who is black, be considered.

Baylor said he told Sterling that Brewer wanted the job and should be interviewed as a courtesy.

"So we go there and we sat down and Brewer starts talking about his qualifications, that he believed that he could do the job of being head coach,'' Baylor said "And when he finished, Donald said something that shocked me. He said, `Personally, I would like to have a white Southern coach coaching poor black players.'''

Baylor said he was "shocked'' by the statement.

"And he looked at me and said, `Do you think that's a racist statement?' I said, `Absolutely, that's plantation mentality.'''

Chris Ford, who is white, was chosen to replace Fitch.

Baylor said he first began feeling he was being discriminated against when Sterling shunned his input during negotiations in 1988 to keep forward Michael Cage with the team.

"Michael being black, me being black, he didn't think I should be involved in it,'' Baylor said.

During negotiations to sign top draft pick Danny Manning in 1988, Sterling was reluctant to pay what the black player and his agent were asking, Baylor said.

"Donald T. said, `Well, that's a lot of money for a poor black '... I think he said kid. So Danny just stormed out,'' Baylor said.

Asked if Sterling ever made a racist statement toward him, Baylor replied, ``Not that I can recall.''

Robert H. Platt, an attorney for Sterling and the Clippers, did not immediately return a call for comment. There was no immediate response to message after the close of regular business hours seeking comment from Joe Safety, the Clippers vice president of communications.

When the suit was filed in 2009 Platt said, "the decision to bring the suit was driven by publicity-seeking attorneys hoping to draw attention to themselves.''

"Their false claims carry no weight and have no credibility,'' Platt said. ``Elgin Baylor was with the Clippers for 22 years and he received numerous salary increases and was always treated well.''

Platt said Baylor "chose to resign,'' rejecting "the opportunity to continue with the organization as a paid consultant or stay in his current job.''

"During Elgin's tenure, the other NBA teams employed over 125 general managers with an average tenure of less than five years,'' Platt said. "In fact, despite the team's poor draft history and record, Elgin was the NBA's longest serving general manager when he chose to resign.

"People can judge for themselves the results of his performance during his 22 years on the job. We stand by our assertion that Elgin was always treated fairly and honorably.''

The Clippers qualified for the playoffs four times during Baylor's 22 seasons as general manager. He was named the NBA Executive of the Year following the 2005-06 season when the Clippers reached the Western Conference semifinals, the furthest they progressed in the playoffs since the 1975-76 season when they were the Buffalo Braves.

The NBA also is named in the lawsuit as an alleged "joint venturer/partner of condoning, adopting and ratifying this discriminatory practice since the league is fully aware of salaries paid to all of the general managers.''