Steve Ballmer now officially Los Angeles Clippers owner
By Josh Sanchez
After a long, drawn out process, the NBA has announced that the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers officially closed on Tuesday and Steve Ballmer is now the team’s new owner.
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“The transaction in which Steve Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers closed today following the entry of an order by a California court confirming the authority of Shelly Sterling, on behalf of the Sterling Family Trust, to sell the team,” a statement from the league read.
“The NBA Board of Governors previously approved the sale and Ballmer is now the Clippers Governor.”
The former Microsoft CEO paid $2 billion to purchase the team.
It is good for the NBA and the Clippers organization that a deal officially closed on Tuesday, because the Aug. 15 deadline for a deal to close was rapidly approaching.
While the league waited for the sale to be finalized, which was a delayed process thanks to some initial lack of cooperation from disgraced owner Donald Sterling, there was discussion among Clippers players and head coach Doc Rivers to boycott the season until the sale went through.
Now, the league will no longer have to worry about whether or not the Clippers will have willing players to suit up and take the court when the season begins.