- Steve Ballmer gets real on the state of the Clippers in chat with Paul George
- Ballmer aims to make fans proud of the organization
- Ballmer Has Changed The Culture In Clipperland
For most of its existence, the Los Angeles Clippers have lived under the shadow of their big brother (the LA Lakers). As a self-proclaimed “Lakers town,” the Clippers have become something of an afterthought in their own home city and it can be wild to see at times.
Slowly but surely, team owner/governor Steve Ballmer has been working to change the status quo in Los Angeles and finally get revenge on all the fans who have dismissed them completely over the years: “I don’t think a lot about legacy. I hope to deliver a stronger, better, brand and image. I don’t want to be the old Clippers. I want to be known as a hot team, a hot place. I want our fans to be able to feel proud like that. This new arena is a thing to give the fans.”
For Ballmer, the first step to a better future for the Clippers starts with getting out from under the shadow of the Lakers, whom they shared a building with for decades. If they can establish their own identity, it will go a long way towards changing the narrative about the franchise.
“We’re never gonna be all we can be unless we’re in nobody’s shadow. I think of that as a contribution I can make to our fans. I can help put us in a position, if you guys can deliver that to our fans then that’s what it’s about… but people don’t give us our due. So I think at this stage people discount us, probably a little chip on our shoulders right now. I think we got a little bit of something to prove.”
Ballmer Has Changed The Culture In Clipperland
The Clippers were among the least successful franchises in sports history before Ballmer’s takeover in 2014. In the years that followed, the mega-billionaire has done his part to turn the situation around.
Besides bringing in head coach Tyronn Lue and orchestrating the acquisitions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Ballmer has equipped the Clippers to become an attractive destination for stars. The Clippers’ new arena, Intuit Dome, is expected to open for the public in the 2024-25 season and it will draw a lot of eyes to the franchise.
Thanks to Ballmer, the Clippers are no longer the laughing stock they used to be and while they have yet to win a title in the NBA, there is hope that they still have time to get it done.
Can The Clippers Have A Breakout Season?
In 2020, the Clippers finally broke ground by making their debut appearance in the Conference Finals, but it’s the furthest they’ve gotten so far in the Kawhi and George era. While talented from top to bottom, the Clippers have suffered constant setbacks due to injuries, load management, and other factors that played a role behind the scenes.
Nevertheless, there is still faith that better days are ahead for the franchise. As Kawhi and Paul George prepare to start another season together, many fans are feeling that this could finally be the year they stay healthy and put it all together when it matters the most.
The biggest factor to their success, of course, is Kawhi Leonard, who is coming off a season averaging 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game as one of the top defenders in the game. If they play their cards right, all they have to do is follow Leonard on the path to redemption in the West.
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