V. Stiviano: Donald Sterling ‘traumatized and hurt’ over NBA ban

V. Stiviano, the woman at the center of the Donald Sterling scandal, said the Clippers owner feels traumatized after being banned from the NBA over recorded comments attributed to him in which he tells her not to be seen in public with black people.

“I think he’s highly more traumatized and hurt by the things that he said himself,” she told Barbara Walters of ABC’s “20/20” on Friday night. “I think he can’t even believe or understand sometimes the things he says, and I think he’s hurt by it. He’s hurting right now.”

When Walters asked Stiviano if Sterling was a racist, she replied: “No, I don’t believe it in my heart,” according to “20/20.”

PHOTOS: Who is V. Stiviano?

“I think Mr. Sterling is from a different generation than I am,” she said. “I think he was brought up to believe these things … segregation, whites and blacks. But through his actions he’s shown that he’s not a racist. He’s shown to be a very generous and kind man.”

Still, she said he should apologize for what he said, “20/20” tweeted.

Walters said Stiviano had seen Sterling since the controversy erupted and asked how he was doing.

“I think he feels very alone, not truly supported by those around him. Tormented, emotionally traumatized,” she said.

Stiviano said she served as Sterling’s “protector” and loved him “like a father.”

Stiviano also told Walters that there were hours of recordings with Sterling that have not been made public.

Stiviano was sued last month by Rochelle Sterling, Donald’s wife, who seeks the return of a duplex, a Ferrari, two Bentleys and a Range Rover she said her husband bought for Stiviano.

Rochelle Sterling alleges in the lawsuit that her husband met Stiviano at the 2010 Super Bowl in Miami. The suit describes Stiviano, 31, as a seductress who targets wealthy older men like the 80-year-old Sterling.

According to property records, Stiviano purchased the duplex in December 2013. But Rochelle Sterling says that she allowed her husband to pay for the house, believing that her name would be on the deed along with his.

Sterling also gave Stiviano $240,000 for living expenses, according to Rochelle Sterling’s lawsuit, amounting to $2 million of community property that he allegedly spent on Stiviano without his wife’s knowledge.

In a response to the lawsuit, Stiviano argues that Rochelle Sterling must have known that her husband of more than 50 years had romantic relationships outside of his marriage.

Stiviano’s court filing ridicules the notion that the “feminine wiles of Ms. Stiviano overpowered the iron will of Donald T. Sterling who is well known as one of the most shrewd businessmen in the world.” Stiviano’s papers, however, do not acknowledge that she was in a romantic relationship with Sterling.