No one was ever going to riot. The Sterling situation has nothing to do with rank and file Black folks. The NBA players were upset because Magic Johnson and Matt Kemp were targeted by Sterling's vitriol. I read an article on ESPN where a reporter said he was talking to Mark Jackson back when played for the Clippers and he said Jackson said to him he'd heard about the Sterling's housing discrimination cases and he told the reporter "What can I do about that?" The NBA players back then and currently aren't concerned about poor Blacks or the masses of Black folks. Those NBA players had their pride hurt because they received a "N____er wakeup call" from Sterling. The NBA players just used Sterling's housing discrimination cases and Elgin Baylor's case to bolster their cause. That's all. The NBA players and the NBPA should be ashamed as well for not standing with Elgin Baylor. That's a damn shame.
Also, if a NBA player had settled a legal case that reflected badly upon the NBA he would be fined and/or suspended. David Stern straight up dropped the ball by not punishing Sterling for his settlement of his two housing discrimination cases. So, while this was the correct decision to ban Sterling for life, I'm not impressed with Silver nor the players.