When Donald Sterling’s racist messages leaked online in 2014, he was, by no small margin, the worst team owner in the league. The Los Angeles Clippers were a mediocre team, but the arrival of former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer as the new owner has seen an upturn in the fortunes of LA’s other side. The team reached the franchise’s first Conference Finals appearance under his supervision.
He’s also the man responsible for building the team’s first arena, the Intuit Dome. Fans and analysts alike have gravitated to the cheerful energy of the billionaire. Ballmer’s been extremely hands-on with the team, which raises the question: Is Steve Ballmer the best NBA owner? And if he is, what sets him apart from other owners? He desires to win Winning seems like the number-one priority for teams, but that isn’t always the case.
The NBA is a business, which means money is needed to be successful. Many owners are content with remaining mediocre as long as they’re generating profit. That isn’t the case with Ballmer.
It helps that Ballmer is the wealthiest owner in the NBA by a long shot with an estimated $125.4 billion net worth. He’s lenient into entering the luxury tax and second apron if that ensures the team’s success.
This is evident in his pursuit of Kawhi Leonard in 2019. Following a legendary title run with the Toronto Raptors, Leonard had an interest in joining the Clippers. However, his one condition was that the team acquired Paul George.
At the time, George .
