LOS ANGELES - Coach Tyronn Lue and the Los Angeles Clippers dedicated their 121-96 season-opening victory over the Sacramento Kings to team owner Steve Ballmer.
Darius Garland led the way for the Clippers with 30 points at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Ballmer was suspended during the offseason for his role in the Clippers' salary cap circumvention scandal and will not be in his usual seat in the arena he built for the 2026-27 season. John Gibson will serve in his place as interim CEO and governor.
"It is odd not seeing him around and the energy he brings every day," Lue said. "He would come and meet with me before every game and John Gibson did that today just to fill in, but there is nobody like Mr. Ballmer. We miss him and we have to keep it going for him."
“We gotta keep it going for (Ballmer). - Ty Lue said after the Clippers win. pic.twitter.com/jQaMYhNgbh
— James H. Williams (@JHWill) October 22, 2026
The NBA announced disciplinary action against the Clippers on Sept. 2 after an external law firm completed enough of its investigation and shared its findings with league commissioner Adam Silver.
The team was fined $30 million and told to forfeit five first-round draft picks (2029–2033). Two of the team’s executives were also suspended.
Ballmer purchased the Clippers in August 2014 for $2 billion from Donald Sterling. The owner moved the Clippers out of the Crypto.com Arena in 2024 after the completion of the new arena in Inglewood.
"We are trying to protect home," Garland said. "It's the house he built. We are trying to protect it as best we can. He was definitely here in spirit. (Gibson) was in his seat, and we felt the energy. It wasn't (Ballmer's) energy, but we felt his energy. It was super cool that we got the win for him."
Gibson was a Los Angeles trial lawyer and long-time team season-ticket holder before being tasked with filling in for Ballmer. Gibson will be responsible for overseeing both basketball and business operations for the team. He will also represent the team when it comes to league-wide voting matters.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tyronn Lue, Clippers dedicate season-opening win to Steve Ballmer