In allowing the deal to go forward, Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas sided Monday with Sterling’s estranged wife, Shelly Sterling, who negotiated the record sale after the NBA banned the 80-year-old billionaire for making offensive remarks about blacks.

Shelly Sterling sought the probate judge’s approval to ink the deal after taking away her husband’s control of the family trust that owned the team because doctors found he had signs of Alzheimer’s disease and couldn’t manage his affairs.

The judge said Shelly Sterling had negotiated a good deal and that her removal of her husband as a co-trustee was in good faith and not part of a secret plan to seize the team.

Shelly Sterling hugged her lawyer and wept after the judge explained his ruling from the bench.

“I can’t believe it’s over,” she said. “This is the best thing.”

An unusual provision of the ruling bars Donald Sterling from seeking a court-ordered delay of the sale as he appeals. His lawyers plan to seek permission from an appellate court to file an appeal.

Sterling was not in court for the ruling. Bobby Samini, one of his lawyers, said Sterling reacted calmly to the news and told his lawyers they had to keep battling on other fronts. Sterling testified during the case that he would fight the NBA until his death.

HISTORY MADE

A groundbreaking decision by NBA players on Monday night.

The players association chose Washington, D.C., lawyer Michele Roberts as its new executive director, Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Roberts will be the first woman to lead a professional sports league’s union.

“Roberts had 32 of 34 votes, union official tells me now. Two abstained,” Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski wrote on his Twitter account.

Roberts will replace longtime director Billy Hunter, who was forced out after a fight with the players.

Wojnarowski reported that Roberts received the support of Clippers guard Chris Paul, the NBPA’s president.

BARKLEY GESTURE

Charles Barkley has offered to pay for the funerals of three kids killed in a fatal carjacking, according to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

Jonathan Rosa, 19, and Cornelius Crawford, 22, have been charged with murder for their part in a carjacking that ended with the hit-and-run deaths of three children in Philadelphia. 

Rosa claims Crawford initiated the carjacking Friday and was driving the sport utility vehicle when it sped out of control and struck a family selling fruit at a street corner for a church fundraiser, said his attorney, Christopher Warren.

But Warren said Rosa “made the decision to get in the car. I’m pretty sure that’s one he’s going to regret for the rest of his life.”

Rosa and Crawford had been hanging out together for a few days when Crawford noticed a woman coming down the steet and decided to carjack her, Warren said.

The woman was forced at gunpoint into the backseat, police said.

About a mile from the carjacking site, the accident occurred. Witnesses reported seeing a car speeding through the intersection, then children lying motionless on the ground.

Keiearra Williams, 15, and her brothers, Thomas Reed, 10, and Terrence Moore, 7, were killed. Their mother, Keisha Williams, 34, was also struck and remained in critical condition Monday.

MJ APPROVES

Prior to joining the Miami Heat, LeBron James decided to change his jersey number and said all other players wearing the No. 23 should do the same as homage to Michael Jordan. 

Now that he is leaving the Heat and the No. 6 behind, James has returned to No. 23, the number he previously wore as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Of course, this action caused some to look at James as a hypocrite. 

ESPN spoke with Jordan about the act of players wearing the No. 23. The Charlotte Hornets owner responded in a cavalier manner, saying that he has no problem with James or other players wearing the number. 

“I’m cool with it,’’ Jordan told ESPN.com via text message Monday morning. “I don’t own a number.''

James announced the number switch on Instagram, after he had used the same medium to ask fans whether he should wear No. 6 or 23 when he joins the Cavaliers. 

WOLVES’ PURSUIT

The Minnesota Timberwolves have yet to part ways with disgruntled power forward Kevin Love, but they are already in the process of scouting his possible replacement. 

The Timberwolves have expressed interest in Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young as part of a Love trade or separate deal, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com. It remains unclear whether the Sixers would be willing to deal Young. 

Philadelphia general manager Sam Hickie said in June that he expects Young to return to the Sixers next season. Young has two years remaining on his contract and stands to make $19.3 million.

While Minnesota continues to consider ways to trade Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers, they are thinking about contingency plans at this point, as it becomes increasingly more obvious that Love will not return to the team. 

Young is no Love, but he is a good option at forward for the Wolves. He led the Sixers in scoring last season at 17.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Philadelphia is a team that is in the process of stockpiling assets until the right moment, and this proposal could prove advantageous for the Sixers. 

The Cavaliers trade package is viewed as most attractive for the Wolves at this time, ESPN.com reports. In that deal, Minnesota could pick up No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins, who cannot be traded until Aug. 23 after signing his rookie deal. 

WARRIORS BELIEVE

Even in the midst of all the Kevin Love trade rumors, Warriors guard Klay Thompson remains confident he will return to Golden State next season. 

Thompson, who teamed up with Stephen Curry to create the “Splash Brothers” tandem, told Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports he got the vibe from new coach Steve Kerr that he will remain with the team. 

“The fact that I haven’t been traded yet makes me feel comfortable,” Thompson said. “That speaks for itself.”

Thompson and Curry said they believe the Warriors’ backcourt is one of the best in the NBA and should not be broken up. Together, in the 2013-14 season, Thompson and Curry averaged 42.4 points per game and hit 484 3-pointers. 

After the season was done, the Warriors talked with the Wolves about a deal for Love but balked at the idea of including Thompson in the deal. Now, the Wolves appear to be in a holding pattern as the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks vie for a shot at Love. 

“Every year there is some rumor in play and teams are trying to make a power move,” Curry said. “But they’ve made a decision, at least it seems like they have, that Klay is an investment they don’t want to give up. That speaks volumes to what he has been able to do in his career and his potential. I’m happy that he’s my backcourt mate.”

Contributors: DeAntae Prince, The Associated Press