With strong, powerful and quite audible words Tuesday, Adam Silver did what was entirely necessary by placing a lifetime ban on Donald Sterling. 

With players and popular fans of the game speaking out against the hateful views of Sterling, this had to be done. With the Clippers seeing shame in their own brand, turning their warmups inside out, with negative attention being drawn to the league on a national level, this had to be done.

The reactions to reports leading up to the press conference that Silver would simply suspend Sterling indefinitely show what the Commissioner risked if he had made a conservative ruling such as that one. Countless bloggers and some writers seemed to be outraged. Netw3rk of Grantland tweeted, “If the TMZ report is correct, Silver better turn the microphone up loud enough to make that slap on the wrist really ring out.” TMZ was the news outlet to inaccurately report that punishment.

Sterling made what he called a “decision as a human being,” and acted on comments and feelings he said left him in “outrage.”

It shows Commissioner Silver is a transparent and caretaking person in power, who also has an ear to the ground when it comes to what his players want. It was later reported some players were going to boycott an entire day of the playoffs if Sterling wasn’t banned.

More so, it was an absolute display of power that cemented the fact that Adam Silver is commissioner. I’d go as far as to say I think this is the day Silver became the commissioner of the NBA.

For months we had speculated on how Mr. Silver would run the operation, and we also heard various views he had, such as the one directed toward the age limit in the NBA draft, and wondered what kind of regime would come. With this decision to remove Sterling from the league, we can be assured the league has a competent and unwavering leader, who will not stand by and allow hate or other detrimental views or acts to take place on his watch.

The ban and fine handed down will clear the way for someone new to step in and freshen up a front office that had stunk of corruption in this way for some time. Los Angeles, Doc Rivers, Chris Paul and the rest of the Clippers can put this behind them and continue in their pursuit of a finals berth this year, and many more down the road with a promising core of players.

Further, we can pick up where we left off with the NBA Playoffs, appreciating each night of nailbiting, remote-chucking, oh-my-goshing goodness. The NBA will have little issue bringing positivity back to the league with such a great postseason taking place.

And that all starts with Adam Silver and his ability to see what had to be done. To leave any ounce of speculation on whether or not the league stood, at any level, for racism would have tarnished its name.

— Kenny Ducey