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Steve Ballmer Says LA Clippers Rivalry With the Lakers is Nothing

Mar 21, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer talks with Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka before the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer talks with Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka before the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

LA Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer says that the team’s rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers is irrelevant for now.

Recently, in an interview with Business Insider, LA Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer dismissed any notion that he is worried about the team’s rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers. Ballmer told them:

"We’ve been kicking the Lakers’ ass the last several years. Let’s just face it. We don’t have the championships that the Lakers do. We don’t have any of that. But in the world of sports it’s, ‘What did you do this season?’ And all we can control is how we do this season, next game, next game, and I’m proud of what we’re doing."

This will fire up some Lakers fans, who will most likely resort back to the common arguments of “RINGSSS” or “Get out of Staples, you’re just paying rent!”. However, Ballmer did bring up a solid point that should be the mindset of every NBA team.

"But our ultimate goal isn’t to to beat one other team. It’s to beat 29 other teams. If you tell me you were the top team in LA, but the 28th team in the league, I say to heck with that."

Ballmer is right. What does it matter if you beat the team across the hall if you can’t win a championship or even make the playoffs? This is what the Lakers’ fan base has been hanging onto lately, especially any time they happen to beat us.

The Future

Changes are brewing though. The Lakers did just earn the second pick in the NBA Lottery and will most likely take Lonzo Ball. They have young pices. There could even be a big power swing if both Blake Griffin and Chris Paul leave the Clippers as the team has no immediate future plan in place that doesn’t revolve around them. If the Clips lose both guys and the Lakers build around their young core and add someone like Paul George, they may once again be the best team in LA.

For now, Lakers fans can just watch us make the playoffs and throw early playoff exit jokes around if it helps them feel better.

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