NBA Commissioner Adam Silver condemned racist comments today that Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling fessed up to making when he imposed a lifetime ban and $2.5 million fine on him.

It was the most high profile moment for Silver since he was appointed to the commissioner's post in February by the NBA's Board of Governors.

Silver, 52, is winning praise for his swift action and zero tolerance policy for the racist comments. Here's a little more background on Silver:

New York Roots:

The son of a lawyer, Silver gew up in Westchester County, just north of New York City, and was a Knicks fan, according to an ESPN profile of him last year.

Before Basketball

Silver worked as a litigation associate at a high-powered New York law firm where he specialized in media and antitrust cases. He also worked as a law clerk to Federal District Court Judge Kimba Wood, according to Silver's NBA biography.

NBA History

Silver joined the National Basketball Association in 1992. Since then, he has held five positions, all working directly under his predecessor, David Stern.

"I feel as though I kidnapped Adam for the NBA on his way to a legal career," Stern told The New York Times in 2001.

Colleges

Silver attended Duke University and then the University of Chicago Law School, where he still sits on the school's visiting committee.

(Andy Lyons/Getty)