Sterling rejects Clippers sale, will sue NBA for $1 billion

[Sgent]

12. He never ceded control

the team is actually owned by a trust, of which he and his wife are the trustees.

The trust document provides for circumstances when he can be stripped of his status as trustee, which includes mental incapacity. Two neurologists (a private one and one at UCLA) found him impaired by Alzheimer's, and by the terms of the trust Shelly Sterling immediately became the sole trustee. Note that the money is still held in trust for his benefit (as specified in the trust document).

Shelly is the one who executed the sale -- without Donald's input or agreement, as she's allowed to do by the trust document.

Note that he could challenge the finding of incapacity by the trust, although usually that is a very high hurdle to climb depending on the trust document wording. The trust can also set a much lower level of incapacity than in general law. So he may not be able to be committed but still be unable to execute as a trustee.