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Los Angeles聽Clippers聽owner Donald聽Sterling聽has pulled his support from a deal to sell the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and will pursue his $1 billion federal lawsuit against the NBA, his attorney said Monday.

"We have been instructed to prosecute the lawsuit," said attorney Maxwell Blecher. He said co-owner Donald Sterling聽would not be signing off on the deal to sell.

Donald聽Sterling聽issued a one-page statement dated Monday titled "The Team is not for Sale" and said that "from the onset, I did not want to sell the Los Angeles聽Clippers."

The $2 billion sale was negotiated by his wife Shelly聽Sterling聽after Donald聽Sterling's聽racist remarks to a girlfriend were publicized and the NBA moved to oust him as owner.

The lawsuit alleges the league violated his constitutional rights by relying on information from an "illegal" recording that publicized racist remarks he made to a girlfriend. It also said the league committed a breach of contract by fining聽Sterling聽$2.5 million and that it violated antitrust laws by trying to force a sale.

"I have decided that I must fight to protect my rights," Donald聽Sterling聽said. "While my position may not be popular, I believe that my rights to privacy and the preservation of my rights to due process should not be trampled. I love the team and have dedicated 33 years of my life to the organization. I intend to fight to keep the team."

Donald聽Sterling聽had agreed to ink the deal and drop the suit last week assuming "all their differences had been resolved," his attorneys said. But individuals close to the negotiations who weren't authorized to speak publicly said he decided to not sign the papers after learning the NBA won't revoke its lifetime ban and fine.

"There was never a discussion involving the NBA in which we would modify Mr.聽Sterling's聽penalty in any way whatsoever. Any suggestion otherwise is complete fabrication," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said.

Shelly聽Sterling聽and her attorney Pierce O'Donnell declined to comment through representatives.

Shelly聽Sterling聽utilized her authority as sole trustee of The聽Sterling聽Family Trust, which owns the聽Clippers, to take bids for the team and ultimately negotiate a deal with Ballmer. The deal would be record-breaking if approved by the NBA's owners.

An individual familiar with the negotiations who wasn't authorized to speak publicly said Monday that there were two options for Donald聽Sterling聽鈥� to either sign or go to court. But even if he wins in court, he's ultimately winning a judgment against himself because his wife Shelly聽Sterling聽has agreed to indemnify the NBA against all lawsuits, including by her husband, the individual said.

Donald聽Sterling's聽comments to V. Stiviano included telling her to not bring black people to聽Clippers聽games, specifically mentioning Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. They resulted in a storm of outrage from the public and players and even prompted President Barack Obama to comment on what he called聽Sterling's聽"incredibly offensive racist statements."

Donald聽Sterling聽said in his statement that he was "extremely sorry for the hurtful statements" he made privately but said them out of anger and jealousy and didn't intend for them to be public.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ultimately decided to ban Donald聽Sterling聽for life, fine him millions, and began efforts to force聽Sterling聽to sell the team. Those efforts ended with Shelly聽Sterling's聽deal with Ballmer.

If this deal ultimately goes through, its terms allow Shelly聽Sterling聽to remain close to the organization by allowing for up to 10 percent of the team 鈥� or $200 million 鈥� to be spun off into a charitable foundation that she would essentially run.

Shelly聽Sterling聽and Ballmer would be co-chairs of the foundation, which would target underprivileged families, battered women, minorities, and inner city youths.

Under the deal Shelly聽Sterling聽would also get the title of "owner emeritus" and be entitled to continuing perks such as floor seats, additional seats at games, and parking.

One of the individuals said the deal also includes conditions that allow Ballmer to buy back the 10 percent portion of the team for a pre-designated price upon Shelly聽Sterling's聽death.

AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney contributed to this report.

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