NBA News: Los Angeles Clippers' New Owner Steve Ballmer Promises NBA Titles
Steve Ballmer was introduced as the new Los Angeles Clippers owner during a rally on Monday to celebrate the start of a new era for the franchise.
Ballmer, who acquired the Clippers from disgraced former owner Donald Sterling via a record $2 billion sale, was welcomed by around 5,000 fans inside the Staples Center, and most of them loved the energy of their new owner.
During the rally, Ballmer, who exchanged high-fives and chest-bumps when he made his way through the stage, vowed that the team will be a completely different team next season.
"We're going to be bold. Bold means taking chances," Ballmer said via ESPN Los Angeles. "We're going to be optimistic. We're going to be hardcore. Nothing gets in our way, boom! The hardcore Clippers, that's us."
Ballmer, the former Microsoft CEO, also vowed that the Clippers will win many Larry O'Brien championship trophy in the next 26 years after failing to win one before.
Ballmer almost became an NBA owner last year as his group were considered frontrunners to acquire the Sacramento Kings franchise. Before the league owners decided to keep the franchise in Sacramento, Ballmer made it no secret that he will relocate the franchise to Seattle.
When asked if he is planning to move the Clippers to Seattle in the future, Ballmer assured the fans that the team will stay in Los Angeles.
"I love Los Angeles," Ballmer said. "Yes, I live in Seattle. We're not moving the Clippers to Seattle for a hundred reasons."
Clippers All-Star forward Blake Griffin, who was among eight players who were present at the rally, was thrilled to see their fans' response to the new owner, saying that it feels completely different now compared to the situation over the past several months.
"When he came through the crowd, I literally had goose bumps," Griffin said. "I don't know if there's one good word to describe him. I know all our guys are excited about the energy he brings. It's completely different."
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