Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has always been known as one of the most passionate owners in the league. Ballmer can often be seen courtside at Clippers games cheering along just as enthusiastically, if not more so, than his fellow fans.

Recently, Ballmer stopped by the Podcast P with Paul George podcast, presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment, and one of the topics discussed was how he came to purchase the team in the first place.

“The Sterling things come up, and my middle son who was in college at the time says ‘dad, you've got to get on this, this thing is gonna sell,” said Ballmer. “I like LA. I'm retired. The notion of getting out of Seattle when it's sort of rainy and gray and coming to LA in the wintertime, that's appealing. So we jumped on it.”

The “Sterling thing” would of course refer to disgraced owner Donald Sterling, who sold the team in 2014 after his racist comments were made public.

Steve Ballmer's takeover occurred during the heart of the Lob City era with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and De'Andre Jordan. The Clippers are now trying to get over the hump with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, although injuries and bad luck have derailed their chances in recent postseasons.

Last season, George missed the playoffs and Leonard exited the first-round loss to the Phoenix Suns after Game 2. Ballmer, George, and the Clippers will hope to rebound from this in the 2023-24 campaign, which kicks off against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 25.