Experience as Sacramento mayor, NBA player helped Kevin Johnson navigate Sterling scandal

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is on a winning streak.

The former NBA star led the city's successful effort to keep the Kings from moving to Seattle and was recently sworn in as leader of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

But he scored what might have been his biggest victory when he represented NBA players in demanding one of the harshest penalties in the history of U.S. sports against Donald Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, over racist remarks.

Johnson used his unique experience as a former player and elected official to make clear that nothing but a mandate for Sterling to sell the Clippers would do.