Former Los Angeles Clippers star Blake Griffin says he sometimes felt like “a possession” owner Donald Sterling had acquired when he played for the Clippers while Sterling was the owner.
Sterling was banned for life by the NBA in April of 2014 for his controversial racist comments which were caught on audio.
Sterling was forced to sell the Clippers. Steve Ballmer bought the team and has completely turned around the culture of the franchise.
🎧 NEW PODCAST DROPPING TOMORROW!
With interviews from Blake Griffin and Doc Rivers, @ramonashelburne tells the story of former Clippers owner Donald Sterling's ultimate downfall in "The Sterling Affairs."
— ESPN (@espn) August 19, 2019
Ballmer and the Clippers traded Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons in February of 2018. For the first time in team history, LAC is title contenders after signing two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard in free agency this summer and trading for All-Star small forward Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The whole Donald Sterling saga was a dark time for the Clippers. The team almost boycotted its playoff game against the Golden State Warriors. Luckily for the Clippers, they were bought by a great human being in Ballmer, who treats everyone with respect.
Griffin obviously is not fond of the Clippers at the moment after they traded him to the Pistons. LAC signed Griffin to a five-year max deal in the summer of 2017, only to trade him seven months later.
Last season when Griffin returned to the Staples Center as a member of the Pistons, Ballmer tried to shake Griffin's hand, but the high-flyer ignored him and ran into the tunnel — although Griffin said postgame that's his usual pregame routine.
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