Obama denounces 'ignorant' alleged racism by NBA owner

Obama took aim at the reported comments by Clippers owner Donald Sterling and said he was confident the National Basketball Association would address the controversy.

The president, speaking in Malaysia, said the statements were "incredibly offensive" and "racist".

"I don't think I have to interpret those statements for you. They kind of speak for themselves," said Obama.

"When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don't really have to do anything, you just let them talk."

Obama said the NBA was beloved by fans across the United States, had many African American players and was steeped in the community's culture.

"I suspect the NBA is going to be deeply concerned in resolving this."

Obama, the first African American president, and a keen basketball player and fan, also made a wider point about racism in US society, which he said was still wrestling with the legacy of slavery and segregation.

"We just have to be clear and steady in denouncing it, teaching our children differently but also (remain) hopeful that part of why some statements like this stand out so much is because there has been a shift in how we view ourselves."

Sterling was allegedly the speaker on an audio recording posted on TMZ's website. It caught a man arguing with a woman about her posting of pictures with African Americans on the Internet and asking her not to bring black people to Clippers games.

"It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you are associating with black people. Do you have to?" Sterling allegedly told his girlfriend.

"You can sleep with (black people). You can bring them in. You can do whatever you want. The little I ask is not to promote it on that... and not to bring them to my games."

The comments provoked outrage in the United States and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver -- whom Obama described as a "good man" -- said the league would conduct an investigation.