Hard to say there’s a better person in the world we could dream of being right now than Los Angeles Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer. Last week he introduced not one but two Los Angeles born NBA bonafide Superstars in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to the world after his front office pulled off the biggest surprise of an already outrageous NBA Off-season.
For already being a staple in the meme world for his over the top excitement courtside and that awesome Windows launch video from the 90’s. The way Mr. Ballmer took to the mic was a moment we’d all imitate very closely if we knew we just shifted the balance of power in the NBA.
With the Clippers long being known as the 2nd choice team playing out of the Staples Center in L.A., even more so with the arrival of King James as of late – it’s quickly forgotten that the Clippers took the Golden State Warriors dynasty to 6 games in the playoffs last season.
Take this team that has the reigning Sixth man of the year in Low Williams and perennial Coach of the Year Candidate Doc Rivers, now add to that Paul George – runner up for Defensive Player of the Year last season, oh and add the reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to the mix and you can see that there is clearly a changing of the guard underway in California.
It should come as no surprise (especially to those of us deeply in love with franchise modes of sports video games) that Ballmer didn’t completely rule out the idea of changing the name of the Clippers when they re-locate to their brand new arena in Inglewood in 2024.
In an interview with the LA Times” Ballmer spoke to the rare opportunity the Clippers will have in front of them where a full team re-design or re-brand would be well within their reach if they so choose.
“We have a once-in-lifetime chance to really step our identity up another level”
“I don’t anticipate making a change, but we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and that is the kind of thing you somehow do in consultation with your fans.”
The Clippers turnaround from where they were just a few short years ago – deeply embroiled in the Donald Sterling to where they are now is nothing short of remarkable.
For Clippers fans everywhere I’d say that the hands of Steve Ballmer has done nothing but take your team from the laughing stock of the league, to a group now in every NBA Title conversation going on around the world, on their way to a new arena with Superstars that know how to win. Safe to say if Steve Ballmer chooses to change the name of the Los Angeles Clippers you’ll more then likely grow to love the decision. Everything he’s touched so far has turned to gold, hard to think the trend will be changing anytime soon.
Flip the page for Ballmer losing his mind over signing Kawhi Leonard.
