CNN/AC360 handout photo shows Los Angeles Clippers owner Sterling speaking with CNN's Cooper during an interview
Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling (L) speaks with CNN's Anderson Cooper during an interview scheduled to be broadcast May 12, 2014 in this handout photo by CNN/AC360. Sterling, who was banned for life from the NBA over racist comments, has apologized and asked for forgiveness in his first public statement since the controversy began last month, CNN said on Sunday. REUTERS/CNN/AC360/Handout via

Donald Sterling, the disgraced owner of Los Angeles Clippers, has claimed Magic Johnson asked him to keep quiet after he was accused of racism.

That was why he took such a long time to declare that he was "sorry" for what he had done. The silence, which eventually got him banned from the NBA, was because of Magic's claim that he would help Sterling "work it out," he said.

The CNN exclusive interview was the first time Sterling spoke about the racism controversy. He claimed he had been "baited" into making such racist comments as he denied to be accused of being racist. He apologized repeatedly for what happened, but got furious when Magic's name was referred.

The 80-year-old man slammed the iconic player accusing him of not doing anything to help anybody. "What kind of a guy goes to every city, has sex with every girl, then he catches HIV? Is that someone we want to respect and tell our kids about?" Sterling asked.

"I think he should be ashamed of himself. I think he should go into the background. But what does he do for the black people? He doesn't do anything," he said.

The controversial audio that put Sterling's NBA career in jeopardy reveals him talking about Magic. "Admire him, bring him here, feed him, f**k him, but don't put (Magic) on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me," Sterling said.

The audio became hugely controversial eventually and Magic was one of the first people to recommend that Sterling should be banned from the NBA.

At present, Sterling is banned for life from the NBA. Also, he is entitled to pay a $2.5 million fine for making a racist's remark. While he may be forced to sell his team, Sterling claimed Magic had an eye on the Clippers. He said he promised to help him as Sterling doing "nothing" would make it easy for him to buy the team.

The Jewish businessman said people from his community would help the poor after getting rich. Black people, on the contrary, do nothing to help others after getting successful.

"Some of the African-Americans -- maybe I'll get in trouble again -- they don't want to help anybody," he said.

Magic reacted on Twitter saying he would prefer talking about NBA playoffs than Sterling's interview.