Steve Ballmer, who until a few months ago was Microsoft CEO, is officially the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. The purchase of the NBA franchise was very complex because Donald Sterling tried all the legal possibilities to prevent the sale after the NBA banned him for life for racist behavior. Ballmer’s offer was the most solid since May and with $2 billion he was able to buy the Clippers.

The Los Angeles Clippers sale ends three troubled months for the NBA franchise. In late April, the now ex-owner Donald Sterling was banned from the league after some of his racist comments were made public. Sterling tried in every way to oppose and retain ownership of the team also starting a battle with his wife Shelly Sterling, who in the meantime took control of the Clippers.

At the end of May, Shelly Sterling signed an agreement with Steve Ballmer for the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers prefering his offer to two other bids that were lower. The NBA also approved the agreement but in order to proceed with the sale it was necessary to await the decision of Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas.

Shelly Sterling was able to be recognized by the court as the sole trustee of the Los Angeles Clippers after her husband was diagnosed the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. It would be all too easy to attribute to this disease Donald Sterling’s racist statements but in previous years he was already involved in events related to racism.

The statements coming from the NBA, from the Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers and the team’s stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are of great joy. Donald Sterling’s behavior threatened to destroy the team, now the staff and the players can finally put this ugly story behind their backs and look to the future.

A celebration is scheduled for August 18 in Los Angeles with Steve Ballmer and the team. The Clippers will have to prove they’re a top-level team in the next season but this will be their only thought and that’s already a big step forward.

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