Steve Ballmer, the former head of Microsoft is now the official owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.
As most people will remember, he paid a whopping $2 billion for the team, but despite the price, and the winning record of the team… many Southern Californians consider the Clippers the number two team in town.
Ballmer sat down and talked to KPCC's Ben Bergman Wednesday at the Clippers practice facility in Playa Vista about the new owner's plans since the $2-billion sale and if he can change Los Angeles' perception about the team:
Steve Ballmer: Obviously we extended Doc Rivers’ contract, which is fantastic. We have been busy looking to flush out the rest of staff on the business side. There was some churn as a result of the clutter last year, as Doc calls it. People are trying to educate me what does it mean to give fans in the arena and on TV a great experience. Trying to get a budget squared now that the team is transferred. That tells us what we can invest and go do. Obviously, the team has been working hard getting in shape, getting ready to go.
Ben Bergman: You for the first time in your professional life are not involved with Microsoft. What is that like after 34 years of having that company largely define you?
SB: Well, I was in this building when I sent my note to the CEO and the board that said I’m leaving the board. I was actually here I think it was the day after the fan rally I sent the note. There was sort of like a ‘Whoo, this is weird.” But, it is weird when you’ve done something so long. I’m as dedicated to Microsoft as I’ve ever been. I’m the largest individual shareholder. I love the place. I believe in it. But I did notice this feels a little different — not all good. I love [Microsoft].
BB: The Clippers sale price, a lot of people found eye-popping. Was it more of a post-retirement hobby, which you are certainly entitled to, or a business decision?
SB: Will I make a better return on the capital I put into the Clippers than I would if I put into something else in the market. I feel very good that it will be a good investment. Could you make a better investment with higher risk? Yes, you could. Some people think I overpaid. Well, I guarantee it there’s no downside risk. I don’t think I over. I feel very good about the price. We know the next bidder bid 10 percent less than I did. So, the max I could have “overpaid” is 10 percent given where the market is.
BB: This is, as you know, still a Lakers’ town. Do you expect it to one day be a Clippers’ town?
SB: What I want to do is make the Clippers the best team in the whole NBA, not just in the part in the NBA that’s south of San Francisco and west of Phoenix. I want to be the best in the whole country. We’ll work really hard at that. I certainly see a lot of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin jerseys running around on kids here in LA. We’ll be fine.
We’re going to be a great team. We’re going to have a lot of fans. After the fan rally, I got much email. I got a lot of email from Clipper fans, from other fans in Los Angeles. But, I got a lot of mail from Clipper fans outside the LA area. I think Clippers have a greater opportunity to be the No. 1 franchise in basketball than almost anybody.
BB: I was going to ask you about that because you gave out your email at the fan rally. Have you been checking that account?
SB: I have been less diligent in response than I probably should have been, but I’ve read every piece of email that’s come in.
BB: And you’re still going to be living in Seattle, how much will we be seeing you at games?
SB: Quite a bit. I still have one of my kids still in high school. I’m a dutiful and serious parent, as well. But, I should make quite a few games.
BB: Are you going to be as boisterous at the games as you were at the rally?
SB: The show is on the court. I’m an energetic human being and an energetic personality, but the show is really on the court. We’ll watch our team do great things.