Donald Sterling lost his bid to prevent the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers, with a California court allowing his wife and co-owner Shelly Sterling to close the deal with former Microsoft Corp. executive Steve Ballmer.

California Superior Court judge Michael Levanas ruled on Monday that the sale could push through immediately despite Donald Sterling's objections. He was ousted by NBA owners after a recording surfaced early this year where he made racist remarks.

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Before contesting the sale of the Clippers to Ballmer, Donald Sterling authorized Shelly Sterling to look for new investors in the team. He changed his mind after the NBA slapped him a lifetime ban and a stiff fine.

Lawyers for Donald Sterling argued that their client was tricked into taking various mental exams in which he was found out to have the signs of the onset of Alzheimer's.

Doctors later declared him as mentally incapacitated, a ground for removal as co-trustee from the Sterling Family trust, which owns the Clippers franchise. "That's the end of the matter," said Pierce O'Donell, Shelly Sterling's representative.

"We are pleased that the court has affirmed Shelly Sterling's right to sell the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer.  We look forward to the transaction closing as soon as possible," said Mike Bass, Executive Vice President for Communications of the NBA.

O'Donell said that the ruling is "a great day for the family trust, the NBA and the entire NBA family."

For the NBA, the sale increases the value of the association's franchises.

TagsLA Clippers, Donald Sterling, Steve Ballmer, Shelly Sterling