Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers governor and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reached $100 billion in net worth Wednesday, according to Scott Carpenter of Bloomberg.

He is the ninth person to reach that milestone.

According to Carpenter, Ballmer has seen his net worth grow by $20.1 billion since the start of 2021.

The 65-year-old purchased the Clippers for $2 billion in 2014.

According to Forbes, the Clippers were valued at $2.75 billion this year, including a 38 percent change in value over the past five years. The mark puts the team sixth among NBA franchises despite having zero championships.

Ballmer, meanwhile, has used his ownership of the Clippers to lower his tax rate while reporting $700 million in losses in recent years, according to a breakdown by Robert Faturechi, Justin Elliott and Ellis Simani of ProPublica.

Before his time in the NBA, Ballmer was known for his work in the tech industry as one of the first employees at Microsoft and Harvard classmate of Bill Gates. He joined the company in 1980 and was the CEO from 2000 to 2014.

Los Angeles Clippers veteran point guard Patrick Beverley is reportedly "open to a contract extension discussion" with the team, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. 

Scotto added that he was told "Beverley loves playing in LA with the Clippers. He's a big fan of Steve Ballmer as an owner, and that [president of basketball operations] Lawrence Frank has been great to Pat and his family."

The 32-year-old Beverley is owed $14.3 million next season before becoming a free agent. It's unlikely he'll replicate that payday in an extension, however, as the Clippers will potentially need to lock up players like Kawhi Leonard and Terrance Mann to long-term, lucrative contract extensions this summer. 

Leonard has a $36 million player option and would be an unrestricted free agent if he declines it. Serge Ibaka has a $9.7 million player option and, after an injury-plagued season, might be more inclined to exercise it. Nicolas Batum is a free agent, though HoopsHype's Yossi Gozlan noted that he's due $18 million over the next two seasons from his buyout from Charlotte, which might make him more willing to accept a smaller offer to remain in Los Angeles after an excellent season with the Clippers. 

Mann is under contract for next season at $1.7 million before a $1.9 million team option for the 2022-23 season. He's outplayed that deal, however, and if the Clippers choose to ultimately exercise that 2022-23 number it could alienate Mann. 

Then there's Reggie Jackson, who was superb for the Clippers in the postseason and earned himself a nice payday come free agency this summer. Retaining him is arguably the team's biggest priority outside of making sure Leonard stays put.

Running it back with the current iteration of the team would make sense. The Clippers took the Phoenix Suns to six games in the Western Conference Finals despite being without Leonard and Ibaka for the series. After a disastrous and disappointing 2019-20 season, it's fair to argue an injury-riddled Clippers roster exceeded expectations in the 2020-21 playoffs. 

Role players like Beverley, Jackson, Mann and Batum were a huge part of that run. Expect the Clippers to try to keep that group largely intact for at least next season. 

The NBA announced Saturday that Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley was suspended one game without pay for shoving Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul late in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday:

The incident occurred with the Suns holding a 118-92 lead with 5:49 remaining. Beverley was given a technical foul and ejected:

Phoenix won 130-103 to clinch the series and its first trip to the NBA Finals since 1993.

On Thursday, Beverley apologized for the shove on Twitter:

The 32-year-old has long been known as one of the best perimeter defenders and agitators in the NBA.

A nine-year veteran, Beverley has spent the past four seasons with the Clippers after beginning his career with the Houston Rockets.

In 37 regular-season games, including 34 starts, Beverley averaged 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 three-pointers in 2020-21. He also shot 42.3 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from deep.

His numbers were down during the playoffs, though, as he averaged just 4.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.8 threes while shooting 42.6 percent overall and 35.1 from range.

For his career, the three-time All-Defensive selection averages 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 trifectas per contest during the regular season.

L.A. overcame 2-0 deficits in each of its first two series, but it could not do the same against Phoenix.

The absence of superstar forward Kawhi Leonard, who missed the Clippers' final eight playoff games with a right knee injury, undoubtedly played a role.

Expectations were high for the Clippers when they landed Leonard and Paul George prior to the 2019-20 season, but they have failed to reach the NBA Finals in each of the past two seasons, and their frustration was apparent late in Game 6.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley apologized on Twitter Thursday after shoving Chris Paul in Wednesday's game:

The Phoenix Suns eliminated the Clippers with a 130-103 win in Game 6, but Beverley got a parting shot against Paul during a timeout:

Beverley received a technical foul and was ejected in the fourth quarter.

"It hurt. It stings," Paul said after the game.

Beverley has been known to get under the skin of opponents during his nine years in the NBA. He has also earned 26 technical fouls during the past three regular seasons, plus four ejections in that stretch.

Paul got the last laugh, though, as he heads to the NBA finals for the first time in his career.

The New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks are expected to be among the teams pursuing Kawhi Leonard if he explores leaving the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency this summer.

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer reported the Heat and Mavs plan a "hard push" to acquire Leonard, who missed the Clippers' Western Conference Finals loss to the Phoenix Suns with a knee injury.

Leonard has a player option for the 2021-22 season, but it's procedural. The five-time All-Star is a lock to opt out of his contract, either to sign a larger long-term deal with the Clippers or bolt his hometown team after two seasons.

Under the NBA's salary structure, Leonard is eligible for a contract that starts at 35 percent of the salary cap because he is a 10-year veteran.

There has been no indication Leonard is in any way unhappy with the Clippers. They were the first franchise he chose to play for in his career—he was traded for both by the Spurs and Raptors—and he's a known homebody who has embraced playing in Los Angeles.

That said, the only thing we know about Leonard is we do not know anything about him. The famously private star likely does not want the same level of attention he received during his last free agency. It would be a surprise if Leonard or anyone in his camp tipped his hand if he did want to leave.

The Heat, Mavericks and Knicks all have their various levels of intrigue. Dallas would offer a chance to play with Luka Doncic, giving Leonard his first chance to play with another top-10 player in his prime. Miami has Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, along with organizational respect that starts at the top and runs through the whole franchise. The Knicks would give Leonard a chance at continuing the upward trend that began last season at Madison Square Garden.

That said, it would be a major surprise if Leonard bolted. Paul George already doubled down on his commitment to the franchise, and the partnership with Leonard has unfinished business after two straight years without a championship.

Even subtracting the basketball reasons, Leonard has been an open book about wanting to play in his hometown. Only a major falling out—and we've heard nothing of the sort—would likely cause him to head elsewhere. 

Paul George praised his teammates after the Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday and were eliminated from the playoffs.

According to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk, George said: "We fought all year. Very proud of my guys of what we had to overcome. We found a way to fight through [the injuries] … one of the greatest locker rooms I've been a part of."

The Clippers showed great resilience throughout the playoffs, overcoming 2-0 series deficits in both the first and second rounds, but they fell 130-103 to the Suns on Wednesday in a season-ending loss.

Losing Kawhi Leonard to a knee injury could have proved fatal versus the Utah Jazz.

He appeared in all seven games during the Clippers' first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks and in the first four games of the second-round series against the Jazz before being sidelined.

As expected, he was performing at an elite level, averaging 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game during the postseason.

Despite the loss of their best player, George and the Clippers closed out the top-seeded Jazz, winning both Games 5 and 6 to send Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert home.

In addition to George, some less heralded players raised their level of play.

Reggie Jackson realized much of the potential he showed earlier in his career, Marcus Morris established himself as a key contributor, and Terance Mann showed off his scoring prowess, including a 39-point outburst in L.A.'s series-clinching win against Utah.

The Clippers fell into 2-0 series holes in both the first and second rounds, but head coach Ty Lue made the necessary adjustments and got them back on track.

However, Los Angeles wasn't able to come back from the 2-0 series deficit against Phoenix, as Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton proved too much to handle.

Last season, the Clippers' campaign ended in pure disappointment, as they blew a 3-1 series lead against the Denver Nuggets in the second round. It was still a disappointing end to their 2020-21 season since the Clippers may have gone the distance with a healthy Leonard, but they showed fight and should be able to build on that for nest season.

The Los Angeles Clippers' season is over after the team fell 130-103 to the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday at home in Staples Center.

Afterward, head coach Tyronn Lue praised his team for their efforts making it this far while also noting that star forward Paul George and the Clippers' gas tanks were on empty.

The Clippers played their last eight playoff games without five-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who was out with a right knee sprain.

Without him, L.A. still managed to defeat the top-seeded Utah Jazz in Games 5 and 6 of the Western Conference semifinal round to advance and play the Suns. The Clips fought hard against the Suns, beating Phoenix twice before ultimately falling in Game 6.

George helped the Clips get as far as they did, notably posting a 27-point, 15-rebound double-double in a Game 3 victory before adding 41 points in a Game 5 win.

PG-13 was off in Game 6, scoring 21 points on 6-of-15 shooting, but there wasn't much the Clippers could do to stop a scorching-hot Suns offense led by Chris Paul and his 41 points in the 27-point win.

Los Angeles Clippers superstar forward Kawhi Leonard will not return to the floor for the remainder of the Western Conference Finals, sources told Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. 

The small forward has been rehabbing a sprained knee in Los Angeles and is not ruling out playing in the NBA Finals should the Clippers advance. Haynes said representatives of Leonard will meet with L.A. to discuss next steps if the team moves past the Phoenix Suns. 

Phoenix leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 with Game 6 at Staples Center on Wednesday night. 

Leonard is arguably the best two-way player in the NBA when healthy, but injuries have nagged him at times throughout the past few seasons.

During the 2020-21 regular season, his second campaign with the team, the two-time NBA Finals MVP averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.9 three-pointers made and 1.6 steals per contest in 52 of the Clips' 72 games.

The team rested the 30-year-old often in hopes that it would keep him fresh and healthy for the playoffs, and it initially seemed to work as evidenced by his playoff averages of 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists.

Despite the rest, Leonard could not avoid the injury bug, as he suffered a knee sprain that cost him the final two games of the Clippers' second-round series against the Utah Jazz and the first five games of the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns.

The 6'7" forward was named to the All-NBA first team and All-Defensive second team this season, so there is a massive hole in their lineup when he doesn't play.

Paul George has performed at a superstar level when Leonard has missed time during the playoffs, but L.A. is missing a second star whenever Leonard is on the shelf.

Other players who have stepped up in Leonard's absence include guards Reggie Jackson and Terance Mann, although the Clippers will need contributions from even more players to thrive without their top star.

Among the players who head coach Tyronn Lue may call upon are Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris Sr., Luke Kennard and Patrick Beverley.

Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard will miss Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns with a right knee sprain.

The team officially listed him as out for Wednesday night.

Leonard suffered a right knee injury in Game 4 of the Clippers' second-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz. He missed the remainder of that series, which L.A. won in six games, and all of the contests so far in the conference against the Suns.

The two-time NBA Finals MVP was terrific in this year's postseason before the injury. He'd averaged 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.2 threes and 2.1 steals across 11 appearances, and Los Angeles has unsurprisingly struggled to fill the massive void he leaves at both ends of the floor.

L.A. head coach Tyronn Lue has juggled his lineup looking to find something that clicks without the San Diego State product available. Terance Mann and Luke Kennard lead the group of players likely to see a continued increase in playing time in the interim. Reggie Jackson has also provided a big scoring punch to make up for the lost production.

Leonard and the Clippers looked like a legitimate championship contender before his injury, but losing one of the NBA's best two-way players has pushed the team to the brink of elimination heading into Game 6. 

Fresh off an impressive performance in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday, Los Angeles Clippers center DeMarcus Cousins is using his doubters as motivation to succeed. 

Speaking to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, Cousins said winning a title this season "would be a middle finger to everybody" and "the ultimate redemption" after spending the past few years having to deal with questions about his ability to play at a high level. 

Cousins has dealt with a series of injuries over the past four seasons that have derailed his career. The Kentucky alum was one of the most dominant scoring big men in the NBA from 2010 to '18 before tearing his Achilles.