Sterling, 80, has reportedly been battling cancer for an extended period of time. The news was first reported by the New York Post, ESPN said.
The NBA on Tuesday banned Sterling for life after he was caught making racist remarks in a recording. Commissioner Adam Silver said Sterling cannot attend any NBA games or practices, be present at any Clippers office or participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team. He would also be fined $2.5 million, the maximum allowed under the NBA constitution.
Silver said he will try to force a sale of the Clippers, but a 75-percent majority of NBA owners would have to vote in favor of forcing the sale.
The NBA's advisory and finance committee held a conference call Thursday to discuss the process for terminating Sterling's ownership of the Clippers.
"The Committee unanimously agreed to move forward as expeditiously as possible and will reconvene next week," NBA executive vice president Mike Bass said in a statement.
In a recorded conversation, Sterling urged his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, not to bring black people to Clippers games or to post photos of herself with black friends on her Instagram account. The attorney representing Stiviano says she gave the tapes to a friend for safe keeping, and the friend then leaked the recordings.
ESPN.com contributed to this report.
