Steve Ballmer has spent years as the owner of the LA Clippers, turning them into one of the best franchises in the NBA. His tenure with the club has transformed its fortunes, even leading the Clippers to a record for the most consecutive wins in 2014. However, he recently shed light on his takeover of the club.
In a recent interview, Ballmer expressed regret over spending $2 billion to purchase the Clippers, especially considering their 51-year NBA championship drought, which he claimed made him feel like he overpaid. Let’s delve deeper into what Ballmer said during his interview on a podcast.
Steve Ballmer regrets his billion-dollar Clippers purchase
The Clippers owner is currently valued at around $100.5 billion. Steve spent approximately $2 billion back in 2014 to acquire the Clippers from Donald Sterling. However, during a recent conversation with Paul George on the “Podcast P” show, he admitted that the purchase was indeed a significant overpayment.
“I was all in, but then it got into the bid process. And I was still all in, but we were in the bid process, and I just said, ‘I’m gonna get this team.’ People thought I way overpaid, but I got the team. I probably paid 10% more, maybe, than I needed to,” Steve said.
The Clippers being purchased by Steve Ballmer was a huge W 🙌
More on how it all happened: https://t.co/hzlPIU41ZT pic.twitter.com/xLPbOV0Pwz
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) September 8, 2023
Ballmer was fortunate to be in a position to comfortably pay the additional expense, and it eventually proved to be the right choice in the long run. Today, the Clippers are valued at approximately $3.9 billion, nearly double the amount Ballmer paid for them in 2014.
Clippers have never won league or Conference titles. Their 51-year
With players like Elton Brand, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan on the roster, the LA Clippers reached the playoffs 17 times. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are expected to help the Clippers establish themselves as a dominant force in the Western Conference.
However, the Los Angeles Clippers have never won an NBA title. Since their inception as a professional basketball team in 1970, they have never taken home NBA Championship trophy.
The Clippers have only ever made it to the conference finals four times, in 1976, 2006, 2012, and 2023. With Steve Ballmer at the helm of affairs and the acquisition of new stars, the Clippers now appear more likely to build on last season’s run to the conference playoffs and challenge for the NBA championship.
Do you also think Ballmer overpaid to acquire the Clippers for $2 billion? Leave your take in the comment section.
