LOS ANGELES – The LA Clippers made the drafting of their two young guards last week official in a press conference inside their practice facility. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson were named members of the Clippers, becoming the first lottery picks for the organization since the 2010 NBA Draft, when they selected Wake Forest's Al-Farouq Aminu with the eighth pick.
Since that previous time they had a lottery selection, the organization has seen a new coaching staff, a new general manager, a new President of Basketball Operations, and a new owner. While people shifting in-and-out of coaching and front office roles isn't surprising in today's NBA, the Clippers saw their first ownership change since the 1981-82 season when former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer purchased the team in 2014 for a whopping $2 billion.
Clippers fans have known grown accustomed to Ballmer, usually seated baseline behind the basket close to the Clippers bench, and his intense enthusiasm during games. Although he's been the owner of the Clippers for just over four years now, this summer was the first time Ballmer went through the NBA Draft Lottery and the process of having his franchise select two players in the lottery. Ballmer spoke exclusively to ClutchPoints to describe what the experience was like for him as the team scouted and worked out a number of players in the weeks leading up to draft night.
“It's very exciting,” Ballmer told ClutchPoints after the Clippers introductory press conference. “Very exciting. A lot of work goes in, a lot of analysis. And then we go get our top 2 guys, it's pretty damn good.
“It was cool because we haven't had a high pick and Lawrence Frank has taken us to a whole new level, [we've got] Jerry West [too]. I really got to see how you do it right. The interviews with the young men, the workouts with the young men, and you get to see the intensity, you get to see the work ethic, you get to really hear how they think and then most importantly, the guys are studying everything about them to see how well they can play. It's fantastic, it's fun for me.”
The analysis and studying of prospects over the last couple of months led the Clippers to acquiring Kentucky point guard Gilgeous-Alexander in a draft night trade with the Charlotte Hornets and selecting Boston College combo-guard Robinson with the 13th pick in the NBA Draft. Gilgeous-Alexander saw his stock rise during his freshman season at Kentucky, and a number of draft analysts have labeled him the best point guard in the Draft. Robinson, on the other hand, was a three-year player at Boston College and became a bonafide bucket-getter by the end of his stint with the Eagles.
“They're both really hard workers and that means a lot to me,” Ballmer added in the interview. “And they both have track records of getting better. That's actually super important.
“It's great to have an athlete whose a great athlete but look at Shai. He came in as the least heralded recruit, didn't start… BOOM, takes over and he's the most important part of the team. Take Jerome: not recruited much out of high school, and this year he's the second leading scorer in the ACC, which is a heck of a strong conference. These are guys who work, these are guys who improve.”
In the team's final known group workout just days before the NBA Draft, with Ballmer, President Lawrence Frank, head coach Doc Rivers, and consultant Jerry West all in attendance, Robinson was said to have impressed the Clippers front office contingent. In Chicago, Canadian-native Gilgeous-Alexander connected quickly with coach Rivers, and even told Frank that he felt Los Angeles could be home for him. Ballmer believes the two guards are perfect fits for the direction the Clippers are heading.
“I love Jerome's game,” said Ballmer. “He gets a lot of attention for his offensive game which is incredible, but when we saw him in workouts, that's a guy who can play some defense too. Shai, people do talk a lot about his playmaking, the way he sees the floor, but his ability, particularly with his length, to be an effective defender is good.
“They both have things they can go work on, and they'll work on them, I'm convinced of that. It's been driving Shai a little crazy that he hasn't been able to play any 5 on 5 for a few months. Agents keep them out of that not surprisingly until the draft. Jerome at least had the ability to go do more workouts which has been good for him.”
Although Ballmer has a number of obligations to fulfill over the next several few weeks of the offseason, he says he'll make it out to Summer League to watch a few games. The Clippers are scheduled to play on July 6 against the Golden State Warriors at 8:30 PM PST, July 8th against the Sacramento Kings at 8 PM PST, and again on July 9th against the Houston Rockets at 8:30 PM PST. After that, the standings will be set and they'll be guaranteed at least one playoff game and either a second round playoff game or one consolation game.
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