Kia, Mercedes, Carmax poised to return to NBA after league bans Sterling
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://commetsmigtest.sandbox.au toblog.com/category/marketing-advertising/" rel="tag">Marketing/Advertising</a>, <a href="http://commetsmigtest.sandbox.au toblog.com/kia/" rel="tag">Kia</a>, <a href="http://commetsmigtest.sandbox.au toblog.com/mercedes-benz/" rel="tag">Mercedes-Benz</a></p><a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20140429/RETAIL03/140429845/nba-ban-on-clippers-owner-clears-path-for-sponsors-kia-m-b-carmax-to"><img alt="Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Clippers - Game Five" data-caption="LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: An advertising sign is blacked out as the Golden State Warriors play the Los Angeles Clippers in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 29, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)" data-credit="Stephen Dunn / Getty Images" data-mep="239598" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/5136x3449+0+6/resize/628x417!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/midas/4a91b4016733335ec39f97352 6c87b73/200082325/487397397.jpg" /></a><br />
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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver dispatched some swift justice yesterday on the bigoted owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling. The 80-year-old billionaire was banned for life and fined $2.5 million for making strongly racist remarks that were recorded on tape. Commissioner Silver has also vowed to try and force Sterling to sell the Clippers in a bid to sever any and all connection between him and the NBA.<br />
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<a href="https://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/28/kia-carmax-pull-clipper-sponsorships-sterling-comments/">Sponsors had rapidly abandoned the Clippers</a>, with covers like the one above going up on sponsor logos during a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors earlier this week, due to the strong and vocal public condemnation of Sterling and his views. With the punishments in place, though, the door has been opened for <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/kia/">Kia</a>, the southern California dealer group for <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/">Mercedes-Benz</a> and used-car retailer <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/carmax/">CarMax</a> (among other, less auto-related organizations like <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/state+farm/">State Farm</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/red+bull/">Red Bull</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/sprint/">Sprint</a>) to renew their sponsorship with the team.<br />
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"We stand with the Commissioner, the league, the players and the fans condemning Mr. Sterling's views. We look forward to a positive resolution and continuing our relationships within the NBA community, including our league and team sponsorships and our personal ties to [Clippers star] Blake Griffin," Kia said in a statement obtained by <em><a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20140429/RETAIL03/140429845/nba-ban-on-clippers-owner-clears-path-for-sponsors-kia-m-b-carmax-to">Automotive News</a>.</em><br />
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Mercedes-Benz was simpler and more ambiguous in its statement, saying, "We applaud the decisive action taken by the NBA and we're evaluating how we will move forward."<br />
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CarMax, meanwhile, was also vague on whether it'd return. "We welcome the opportunity to discuss future sponsorship if this matter is fully resolved," the retailer said in a statement.<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://commetsmigtest.sandbox.au toblog.com/2014/04/30/kia-mercedes-carmax-advertising-nba-clippers/">Kia, Mercedes, Carmax poised to return to NBA after league bans Sterling</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://commetsmigtest.sandbox.au toblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 14:15:00 EST. Please see our <a href="/rss-term-of-use/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://commetsmigtest.sandbox.au toblog.com/2014/04/30/kia-mercedes-carmax-advertising-nba-clippers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://commetsmigtest.sandbox.au toblog.com/forward/20878171/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://commetsmigtest.sandbox.au toblog.com/2014/04/30/kia-mercedes-carmax-advertising-nba-clippers/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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