Los Angeles Clippers CEO Dick Parsons warns Doc Rivers may leave if Donald Sterling stays

Parsons claimed it would be a "disaster" if Rivers left the NBA franchise, arguing the 52-year-old effectively holds the Clippers together.

Sterling, who has been banned from the NBA for life over racist comments he made earlier this year, is trying to block a sale of the Clippers, which was part of his suspension, in court.

During his testimony at the Los Angeles Superior Court, Parsons argued a large number of key individuals involved with the Clippers have told him they would leave if Sterling was allowed to stay as owner.

"If none of your sponsors want to sponsor you, your coach doesn't want to coach you and players don't want to play for you, what do you have?" Parsons said.

The 66-year-old CEO claimed Rivers - as well as some players and sponsors, including Mandalay Bay and Kia Motors - did not want to be involved with Sterling anymore.

"If Doc were to leave, that would be a disaster," Parsons said.

"Doc is the father figure of the team. Chris [Paul] is the on-court captain of the team. But Doc is really the guy who leads the effort. He's the coach, the grown-up, he's a man of character and ability - not just in a basketball sense, but in the ability to connect with people and gain their trust.

"The team believes in him and admires and loves him. If he were to bail, with all the other circumstances, it would accelerate the death spiral."

Last season was Rivers' first in charge of the Clippers and he led the LA-based franchise to their first divisional title.

In June, Sterling reportedly accepted selling the Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2billion, with the deal effectively having been brokered by his wife Shelly.

But just days later, the 80-year-old launched legal proceedings to block the sale with part of his lawsuit claiming it was sold too cheaply.

Parsons, however, labelled the $2billion deal a "knock-out price", while Anwar Zakkour - who played a role in brokering the deal - claimed it had been a good bit of business.

"Whether you want to call it a slam dunk or a home run, none of us believed we would get to the $2billion," Zakkour said.

Sterling reportedly launched another lawsuit on Tuesday against the NBA, the league's commissioner Adam Silver and his wife.