Los Angeles - Former Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer will buy the Los Angeles clippers basketball team for $2 billion, he announced in a statement Thursday with co-owner Shelly Sterling.
The NBA is forcing the Sterling family to sell the team because of racist comments made by Sterling's husband, Donald Sterling, who is reportedly poised to oppose a sale.
In a joint statement with Ballmer, Shelly Sterling said she was acting as sole trustee of the family, which owns the team, although a lawyer for her husband said he had to sign off on the deal.
“I am delighted that we are selling the team to Steve, who will be a terrific owner,” Shelly Sterling said in the statement.
Ballmer said he loves basketball and will do “everything in my power to ensure that the Clippers continue to win - and win big - in Los Angeles.”
Sapa-AFP