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Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer bought one of the most popular NBA teams in 2014. While it may seem like an usual story, Ballmer recently narrated the uncanny backstory of his $2 billion purchase. He sat down with the Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George and revealed the story behind nabbing the Clippers’ ownership. However, the success story only ended with his wife saying, “Don’t embarrass me.”

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The Clippers have had a consistent run in the regular season ever since Ballmer bought the team in 2014. In the last 10 years, the team has never won less than 40 games in the regular season. Notably, the team missed the playoffs only twice and reached the Western Conference Finals in the 2020-21 season. Despite the consistent performance, the team is yet to win a ring. However, the LA side turned the NBA world’s attention to their side when they roped in PG and Kawhi Leonard together in 2019.

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Clippers owner narrates his $2 billion purchase story

In the latest episode of Podcast P with Paul George, Steve Ballmer narrated various stories from 2014 when he decided to buy an NBA franchise. Notably, Ballmer revealed that he almost bought the Milwaukee Bucks. Following that, he spoke about the budding war that he underwent to seal the deal and the Clippers franchise.

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USA Today via Reuters

Ballmer spoke about his excitement in buying a LA team as his house was near the city. Additionally, he also mentioned that his wife would never move. He added, “I was all in but then we got in the bid process… I just said I’m gonna get this team and people thought I way overpaid but I got the team.”

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Following that, he also revealed his wife’s funny reaction to his $2 billion purchase. She said, ‘Just don’t embarrass me!’ ” Ballmer recalled.

Read More: Days After Massive $100,000 Setback, James Harden Encouraged to Form Dream Team With LeBron James, as Clippers Play Waiting Game

Now that, it’s been almost a decade since Ballmer purchased the team, how does the team look like in the 2023-24 season?

What’s up for grabs for the Clippers in the upcoming season?

The positive news for the Clippers fans is that Paul George is back recovered from his injury and raring to go. Moreover, the duo of Kawhi Leonard and PG will hopefully produce their magic and bring their first championship together.

Notably, the Clippers have an extra firepower in the form of Russell Westbrook.

Watch This Story: Shaquille O’Neal Subtly Warns Austin Reaves and Anthony Edwards of a Storm Coming, as NBA All Star-Led Rivals Smoke Latvia to Overshadow Team USA

Will the Clippers make it big in the upcoming season? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by

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Shahul Hameed

2,974 Articles

Shahul Hameed is a Senior NBA Writer at EssentiallySports. Armed with a Master's Degree in journalism from a distinguished institute, his journey into sports writing began during his college days, and since then, Shahul has been captivated not only by the remarkable consistency of Stephen Curry but also by the enduring legacy of LeBron James. He specializes in covering the live basketball action. When games aren’t on, beyond covering trade rumors and match reports, Shahul actively engages with fan bases, ensuring he is attuned to the ever-changing NBA landscape. His dedication to his craft finds an equal match in his admiration for the storytelling and cinematic brilliance of Quentin Tarantino, David Fincher, and Wes Anderson.

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Bilal Handoo

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