NBA investigating racist comments attributed to Clippers owner Donald Sterling

An audio recording posted on TMZ's website has the National Basketball Association reeling.

A man TMZ claims is Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling lectures a woman they say is Sterling's girlfriend V. Stiviano in the audio recording for "associating with black people."

The man goes on to specifically rail against a picture Stiviano posted of herself with Hall of Famer Magic Johnson on Instagram. That image has since been deleted from Stiviano's account. The man also says, "And don't bring him to my games, OK?"

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Magic Johnson took to Twitter in response:

The NBA is conducting a "full investigation" of whether the comments were made by Sterling, and a league spokesman called the audio recording "disturbing and offensive."

It is unclear what action, if any, the league could actually take if the voice on the call is indeed Sterling, though. The NBA would have to take into account that Sterling likely assumed his comments were not being recorded, notes USA Today.

The Clippers are preparing for Game 4 of their NBA playoff series against the Golden State Warriors.