Mat Ishbia doesn’t sound interested in piling onto Steve Ballmer. He’s willing to say the Clippers owner crossed a line, but he’s just as quick to note he still views Ballmer as one of the NBA’s best.
Speaking with Dan Roberts for Front Office Sports’ Portfolio Players, the Suns owner addressed the Clippers’ salary cap circumvention scandal and Ballmer’s one-year suspension. Ishbia’s view was blunt enough to land, but measured enough to stop short of turning the situation into a personal takedown.
“I think Steve probably regrets what he did,” Ishbia said, via Eli Kronenberg of Front Office Sports. “I’m sure Steve realized he made a mistake.
It doesn’t make me not like Steve. I think Steve Ballmer’s a great owner.
He’s going to do great things. He’s a great part of the NBA.
I know he’s on a year suspension. He’ll be back and hopefully have an impact in a positive way.”
That said, Ishbia didn’t leave much room for debate on the punishment itself.
“Obviously we’re all very competitive and want to win, and so I get it, I understand the mindset,” Ishbia added. “But we’ve got to follow the rules as much as we can. That was a misstep by Steve.”
The league’s response came after its investigation into Kawhi Leonard’s no-show endorsement deal with failed environmental startup Aspiration. The NBA suspended Ballmer, stripped the Clippers of five first-round picks and fined the team $30 million.
Ishbia said commissioner Adam Silver handled the whole thing the right way.
“I think Adam Silver did a fantastic job managing it, leading, and punishing someone, and setting the tone that, ‘Listen, we have rules for a reason. We’re going to follow the rules, and if you’re not going to follow the rules, there are going to be severe consequences to make sure that no one thinks about doing that again,’” he said.
He also acknowledged that the league likely sees smaller rule-breaking all the time, pointing to player birthday gifts that go beyond allowed limits. But in his view, this case was on another level.
“I don’t think anyone would do it again now, knowing what happened.”
Five first-round picks and $30 million are a hefty reminder, even for owners who are used to pushing to win.
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