Latest news with #SteveBallmer
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Officially Become The Nursing Home Of The NBA": Kendrick Perkins Slams Clippers After Chris Paul Signing
"Officially Become The Nursing Home Of The NBA": Kendrick Perkins Slams Clippers After Chris Paul Signing originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Clippers recently confirmed that Chris Paul will be returning to LA for what could potentially be his final season in the NBA. At age 40, Chris Paul became the oldest player on the Clippers' roster that already had five players of age 34 or above before he even joined. Just a few days ago, they also signed the 32-year-old Bradley Beal, who is arguably on the downward slope in his career in terms of impact on the floor. Therefore, Kendrick Perkins is not happy with the Clippers' moves this offseason. The former NBA champion went on ESPN's NBA Today and ripped into the Clippers for their offseason moves. "Congratulations to Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers. They have officially become the nursing home for the NBA for the players who are on the backend of their careers. Nah, I'm serious. Because if we think that this is serious in terms of moving the needle for the Clippers as far as being a competitor, not just a title contender but competing in the tough Western Conference, it's not." "And I get it, Chris Paul brings a lot of value whether he's playing or he's on the bench as an extension of Ty Lue. But when I look at their roster, I see a guy like Dunn, yes, he's a guy that could defend at a high level, but the Clippers look old." "And they still, to me, have a problem in their wing position when it comes to depth of guys who can compete and play at a high level on the defensive side of things. Offensively, they got enough to put up points; they're going to have a good regular season. But can they compete with the likes of Houston, Denver, or even the Lakers now? I just don't see it." So clearly, Perkins is not moved by the Chris Paul signing and thinks the Clippers have not done well this offseason. Later, while addressing all the moves of the team in total, Perkins had a critical grade for the Clippers. 'Well, I would I would give them a C to be honest with you because again, while other teams around the league, because Oklahoma City has set the bar as needing the youth, you're watching them and they've added Bradley Beal who over the last four or five years hasn't played over 60 games even one time in his career." "So, he has an injury history. We know what Kawhi Leonard has. I'm a fan, huge fan of Big Zubac. We know what he could bring to the table, but James Harden has a history of folding like clean sheets when it comes down to the postseason." "So again, I get it. You get Bradley Beal at a bargain on a two-year, $11 million deal, but we haven't seen the best version of Bradley Beal in quite some time. And I don't know if he could just turn it on. And I don't think others around the league care if he turns it on. And to be honest, if I had to give them, uh, what they rank in the state of California for their off seasons or where they rank in these teams, I would have them third on the list behind the Lakers and Golden State right now.' Chris Paul played on the Clippers for six seasons between 2011-2017 before he was traded to the Rockets to join forces with James Harden. He has now come back for what seems to be a farewell tour for the guard after declaring his intentions to retire after this season, coincidentally with Harden on the team as well. Paul is not very concerned about playing time and just wants to be on a championship-winning roster. His experience in the league makes him a valuable addition to any team, despite averaging only 8.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game last season. Do you think Perkins is right? Have the Clippers not addressed their main concerns this offseason? Are they not championship contenders despite four former All-Stars on their roster? Let us know what you think in the comments story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
California congressman calls for investigation into FireAid funds distribution
A Republican congressman from Northern California called for an investigation into the distribution of the donations made during the FireAid benefit concert. The one-night event, held at both SoFi Stadium and the Forum, was produced by Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and featured a lineup of music's biggest stars. After Ballmer and his wife Connie matched the donations made during the performances, the concert raised a total of $100 million for fire victims and various nonprofits. One of the beneficiaries was the Pasadena Humane Society. "We received $250,000," said Kevin McManus, spokesperson for Pasadena Humane Society. "We were able to save a lot of animals' lives in part because of that donation." Despite praise from organizations for how quickly they received FireAid benefit funds, claims that donations were not reaching fire victims circulated online and on social media. After seeing the claims, Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) wrote a letter calling for the Department of Justice to investigate the rumors. "We just want to get answers because a lot of people really gave generously to this cause," Kiley said. "The organizers themselves gave very generously. When you see reports that maybe the money didn't end up going to the folks that it should have, or the victims haven't been given the help that was intended." The Los Angeles Times published an extensive investigation of FireAid funds, in which its journalists contacted more than 100 nonprofits listed as recipients of the concert, on the same day Kiley demanded an investigation. The LA Times reported that the funds reached those organizations and that the money was a lifeline, helping to feed survivors, clothe fire victims, provide mental health services and save animals' lives. "We got exactly what we were promised and we're putting it to good use," McManus said. The Clippers stated that all the money has been accounted for and offered to show Kiley the receipts. "The organization itself has actually reached out and offered to provide some visibility into how they handled the funding," Kiley said. "I think that's the important thing is just restoring public confidence."
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Clippers rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser showing growth in Summer League
Yanic Konan Niederhauser received the pass near the half-court line from a Clippers teammate who had just stolen the basketball. The 6-foot-11 center maneuvered down the court, his long strides allowing him to use just two dribbles before he took flight outside the circle and threw down a thunderous dunk over helpless Lakers defender Cole Swider. The crowd inside Thomas & Mack Center went into a frenzy, including Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, who leaped out of his courtside seat, pumped his fists and yelled. At that moment Monday night, Niederhauser displayed his agility, speed and ballhandling skills. It was another step taken in his progress while playing in the NBA Summer League on the campus of UNLV. The Clippers had used the 30th and last pick in the first round of the NBA draft to select Niederhauser out of Penn State because they saw potential. That exciting, and in many ways unexpected, play was an encouraging sign for the Clippers. 'I didn't see Mr. Ballmer because I was in the moment,' Niederhauser, laughing, said late Monday night. 'That's the guard skills I was talking about and I had a couple of fast breaks these last few days and I passed the ball away. Now I said, 'Naw, man. I can go up by myself.' I told myself I was going to dunk it and I did.' Read more: Clippers to land Bradley Beal after Suns buy out his contract In his first three games in the NBA Summer League, Niederhauser has shown different skills. It was his defense and rebounding in the first game, against the Houston Rockets in which he blocked four shots and collected 10 rebounds. Though he missed all four of his shots and scored just one point, Niederhauser found other ways to contribute. It was a little bit of everything in his second game, against the Milwaukee Bucks in which he had two points, three rebounds, two steals and one block. It was his offense in the third game against the Lakers in which he scored 10 points, grabbed two rebounds and had two steals. 'He just sticks with it,' Clippers assistant and Summer League coach Jeremy Castleberry said. 'No matter if it's going good or bad, he sticks with it. He's trying his best to do everything we ask him to do. And just like I said after the last game, he continues to get better. From the last game [against the Bucks] to this game [against the Lakers], he was a little bit better than he was last game. He's getting the dunks, catching the basketball, finishing it, being a rim-protector, consistently running the floor. Like, you can see the progress.' Niederhauser was born in Bern, Switzerland, a town of about 135,000 an hour from Zurich. Even so, at 15, the Clippers' international scouts became aware of Niederhauser when he played on the under-16 Switzerland national team. At that time, he was a 6-1 guard. Niederhauser had a growth spurt at 17 that pushed him into playing center position. He said he was 6-5 when he broke his knee and was forced to sit out for a year. 'I was like out for a whole year and once I came back, after a whole year of sitting out and I get back on the court, now I'm 6-11,' he said. 'Yeah, in one year, I had to change my whole game from being like a forward/guard to being a center. So, yeah, I had guard skills. That's why sometimes I be dribbling the ball.' Niederhauser laughed, agreeing those guard skills helped him make that electric dunk against the Lakers. His size, weight (242 pounds) and youth (22) are all part of the package the Clippers like. 'We think there's plenty of upside,' Clippers general manager Trent Redden said. 'You know, the famous draft word, obviously. But for a guy that's his age, he's still learning and growing into his frame that he hasn't really had his whole life. We just haven't had a guy that size at that position in a backup role that's young that we can feed into and give to our developmental staff.' As a kid growing up in Switzerland, Niederhauser learned to speak four languages — Swiss, German, French and English. His parents, Dominique and Nadege Niederhauser, made sure their son was well-versed. 'Since I was a baby, I was speaking all those languages,' Niederhauser said. 'My mom, she speaks French. She's from the Ivory Coast and that's where I learned French, and my dad speaks mostly German and so that's how I learned my German.' Now that Niederhauser is with the Clippers, he'll have tutors to teach how the NBA game is played. Read more: Despite injury, Kobe Brown showcases his potential for Clippers in Summer League win He will be able to learn from centers Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez. Lopez is 37 and a 17-year veteran who signed with the Clippers this summer. He mentioned how he played with great players like Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Now it's up to him to pass on knowledge to Niederhauser like others passed on to him. 'I'm absolutely ready to get on the court, help him out and help him adjust and become a great player in this league,' Lopez said. Niederhauser is soaking it all in while in Las Vegas, from the games to the practices to the conversations he's had with Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. 'He's been giving me advice. I can just tell that he has a lot of knowledge,' Niederhauser said. 'I'm loving this. I'm in a great situation with experienced players to learn from. I'm just taking time to learn and get my experience. Everything is new to me so I'm just trying my best to soak everything in and just get better every day.' Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Al Arabiya
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Brook Lopez is joining a Clippers team that is nothing like the one he grew up watching
Brook Lopez grew up in Southern California. He remembers the days when the Los Angeles Clippers were awful. Those years are long gone–and Lopez is betting that even better years are ahead. Lopez discussed his decision to join the Clippers on a two-year contract worth nearly 18 million on Monday at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, raving about how far the once-woebegone franchise has come. The Clippers have posted 14 consecutive winning seasons, the longest active streak in the NBA. 'It's crazy to see, but it's very cool,' Lopez told reporters. 'Seeing the climb, the ascent, I'm a Cali boy. I grew up in the valley in North Hollywood. Obviously, things were very different back then. And to see where the Clippers have come now, it's just astonishing. It's beautiful. I'm glad to be a part of it. And hopefully, I can help take them even further up.' For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Lopez was born in 1988, and over the first 25 years of his life, the Clippers had the NBA's worst overall record. In the 12 years since, they have the league's second-best record behind only Golden State. They play in a palace of a new arena, Intuit Dome, have stars like James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, have a title-winning coach in Tyronn Lue, and have one of the league's biggest-spending and most-committed owners in Steve Ballmer. If all that wasn't enough, the Clippers' front office is run now by Lawrence Frank, who was Lopez's first NBA coach with the then-New Jersey Nets. 'Definitely a full-circle moment,' Lopez said. Lopez comes back to the Los Angeles area–he played for the Lakers in 2017-18–after spending seven seasons with Milwaukee and helping the Bucks win a title. He averaged 13 points and 2.1 blocks per game in those seven seasons with the Bucks, and the 37-year-old has averaged 15.9 points in 17 NBA seasons. He's been a starter for basically his entire career, though may see a different role with the Clippers–already a staunch defensive team featuring defensive player of the year candidate and fellow 7-footer Ivica Zubac as the starting center. 'I think we complement each other extremely well,' Lopez said. 'Obviously, we'll be very big. I think we'll be great defensively, just dominating the paint, sealing the paint off. And then offensively, we complement each other there as well. Spread the floor for him, give him all the room in the paint for him to go wild.' There are some perks: He's going home, and the well-known Disney enthusiast will be playing his home games about a half-hour drive from Disneyland. But the biggest perk Lopez thinks is joining a team that he believes is good enough to contend for a title. 'The money's nice, but that's not what it's about for me,' Lopez said. 'I love playing, I love hooping, I've loved it since I was a little kid. I watched my older brothers play. I've just always been around it, and I love winning just as much. I just want to keep winning. I got a great taste for it in Milwaukee, and these guys are all about that here, and I'm all about it. So it's a perfect fit.'
Associated Press
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Brook Lopez is joining a Clippers team that is nothing like the one he grew up watching
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Brook Lopez grew up in Southern California. He remembers the days when the Los Angeles Clippers were awful. Those years are long gone — and Lopez is betting that even better years are ahead. Lopez discussed his decision to join the Clippers on a two-year contract worth nearly $18 million on Monday at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, raving about how far the once-woebegone franchise has come. The Clippers have posted 14 consecutive winning seasons, the longest active streak in the NBA. 'It's crazy to see, but it's very cool,' Lopez told reporters. 'Seeing the climb, the ascent, I'm a Cali boy. I grew up in the valley in North Hollywood. Obviously, things were very different back then. And to see where the Clippers have come now, it's just astonishing. It's beautiful. I'm glad to be a part of it. And hopefully, I can help take them even further up.' Lopez was born in 1988 and over the first 25 years of his life the Clippers had the NBA's worst overall record. In the 12 years since, they have the league's second-best record behind only Golden State. They play in a palace of a new arena, Intuit Dome, have stars like James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, have a title-winning coach in Tyronn Lue and have one of the league's biggest-spending and most-committed owners in Steve Ballmer. If all that wasn't enough, the Clippers' front office is run now by Lawrence Frank, who was Lopez's first NBA coach with the then-New Jersey Nets. 'Definitely a full-circle moment,' Lopez said. Lopez comes back to the Los Angeles area — he played for the Lakers in 2017-18 — after spending seven seasons with Milwaukee and helping the Bucks win a title. He averaged 13 points and 2.1 blocks per game in those seven seasons with the Bucks, and the 37-year-old has averaged 15.9 points in 17 NBA seasons. He's been a starter for basically his entire career, though may see a different role with the Clippers — already a staunch defensive team featuring defensive player of the year candidate and fellow 7-footer Ivica Zubac as the starting center. 'I think we complement each other extremely well,' Lopez said. 'Obviously, we'll be very big. I think we'll be great defensively, just dominating the paint, sealing the paint off. And then offensively, we complement each other there as well. Spread the floor for him, give him all the room in the paint for him to go wild.' There are some perks: He's going home, and the well-known Disney enthusiast will be playing his home games about a half-hour drive from Disneyland. But the biggest perk, Lopez thinks, is joining a team that he believes is good enough to contend for a title. 'The money's nice, but that's not what it's about for me,' Lopez said. 'I love playing, I love hooping, I've loved it since I was a little kid. I watched my older brothers play. I've just always been around it and I love winning just as much. I just want to keep winning. I got a great taste for it in Milwaukee and these guys are all about that here and I'm all about it. So, it's a perfect fit.' ___ AP NBA:
