Steve Ballmer proves he's the best owner in sports in wake of Kawhi drama

In the sports industry, there is only one owner like Steve Ballmer of the LA Clippers, and that is the man himself. Ballmer is what many compare to being one-of-none, as his personality and love for the game is an excellent mix that no fan has ever seen before, in any sport across the world.

In person, Ballmer has always seemed to be one of the most approachable people in the NBA. He always has a smile on his face and radiates positive energy that he would love to spread to fans and those passionate about the NBA.

These features immediately rank Ballmer in the S-tier of sports owners worldwide. But what elevates him to number one, by a large margin, is the fact that he does not hesitate with anything related to the team’s finances.

Thus, Ballmer spent money in the billions on the Clippers’ Intuit Dome, which is more than just an arena, but a tourist attraction for outsiders to visit in Los Angeles. Soon enough, he could add a statue or other monumental figures to make LA’s home even more special.

However, this week, Ballmer has been faced with the emotional distress that comes with financial troubles off the court. He was accused of doing a fraudulent business transaction with Kawhi Leonard, the face of the franchise, and a third-party tree company.

This damages the public image of himself and the team; unlike others, Ballmer ensured that everyone would know he is an open book with nothing to hide.

Steve Ball answering accusation questions with ESPN speaks volumes about his character as the best sports owner

When the truth inevitably breaks free, professionals involved are trained to hide their faces and voices behind a public statement. This is a strategy that keeps the people involved safe from worsening their situation.

The LA Clippers released a public statement, presumably for public relations purposes, which portrayed their side of the story and contradicted what was discovered by Pablo Torre on his podcast.

Furthermore, Steve Ballmer, as the team owner involved, was not required to do anything further after Shams Charania helped make the Clippers’ statement reach a broader audience. This is the path anyone else would have followed.

On the contrary, Ballmer went out of his way and joined ESPN for a discussion-based interview to answer any questions on the Clippers. This is different, adding to why he is a phenomenal owner, even in the wake of something detrimental.