Los Angeles Clippers lose sponsorship from KIA over Donald Sterling comments

Apr 24, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) before Griffin goes to the free throw line against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter of game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors 98-96. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

The backlash from the NBA over the Donald Sterling comments that were revealed this weekend may be awaiting the conclusion of the league’s investigation but others around the league are moving a lot quicker — most notably sponsors.

After his racist comments became public this weekend, corporations are sprinting out of the Staples Center and away from the Clippers and perhaps the most brutal blow comes from KIA who has dropped their sponsorship of the Clippers and suspended their Blake Griffin ads in the process.

This is probably the one sponsorship that detonates the bomb that the Clippers are sitting on as now not only is the league and the team losing money but so too is one of the NBA’s most recognizable faces. KIA isn’t punishing Blake Griffin on purpose but his endorsement deal is collateral damage in the fallout from Donald Sterling’s hateful comments. By KIA stepping away from the Clippers and from Griffin by default, this is the sort of thing that motivates a player to leave the team and never look back.

If there was ever a push to truly get Donald Sterling out as owner of the Clippers, the loss of KIA may be the thing that does it.

[H/T: TMZ]

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