Former NBA star Larry Johnson calls for an all-black basketball league to combat racism

Almost 70 years ago, Jackie Robinson destroyed preconceptions with the Negro League. Now decades after his achievements, a white team owner, Donald Sterling is caught saying the kinds of things that blighted the ballparks in the 1940s. With an NBA dominated by white bosses and black players, we're looking at the call to restructure it all.

Effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA. Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices. He may not be present at any Clippers facility, and he may not participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team. He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors meetings or participating in any other league activity.Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner

A punishment and a strong condemnation from the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver.

In addition, he fined Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, $2.5 million dollars - the maximum amount allowed under the NBA constitution. Commissioner Silver also said he will urge the NBA's Board of Governors to force the sale of the team. It's the harshest punishment ever handed to a professional sports team owner. And it follows the revelation of some harsh comments from Mr. Sterling; racist remarks against black people and black players.

Former NBA great Larry Johnson sent out a tweet with his solution to racism in his sport.

Larry Johnson essentially questions whether black athletes can protect themselves best by running their own league, removing white owners and managers. Today we're asking if that really is an answer.

• Morgan Campbell is the host of the Toronto Star's Sportonomics, a weekly video series exploring the sports industry. He was in our Toronto studio.

• Billy Hawkins is a Professor at the University of Georgia in the Department of Kinesiology and the author of The New Plantation: Black Athletes, College Sports, and Predominantly White NCAA Institutions. We reached him in Loganville, Georgia.

What do you think of an all-black NBA league in response to racism?

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This segment was produced by The Current's Sarah Grant, Pacinthe Mattar and Cynthia Vukets.