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Steve Ballmer Had Staff Wear Shirts Comparing Blake Griffin to MLK, Lincoln and Gandhi in ‘Clipper for Life’ Pitch Before Trading Him

Steve Ballmer wanted Blake Griffin to believe he was more than the Los Angeles Clippers’ franchise player. He had already spent about 7 seasons with the franchise since his rookie season.

Yard Barker

Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 4:56 AM

Key Things to Know

Steve Ballmer had Clippers staff wear shirts featuring Blake Griffin alongside icons like Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln.
The 2017 free agency pitch convinced Griffin to sign a five-year, $173 million contract as a supposed Clipper for life.
The Clippers traded Griffin to the Detroit Pistons just seven months after staging the elaborate presentation.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former NBA star Blake Griffin recounted the Los Angeles Clippers' 2017 free agency pitch during an appearance on Pablo Torre Finds Out. Owner Steve Ballmer and the franchise had staff wear "Pioneers" shirts picturing Griffin alongside historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Mahatma Gandhi. The elaborate presentation promised Griffin he would be a "Clipper for life," leading to his five-year, $173 million contract extension.

Despite the pitch and a mock jersey retirement ceremony, the Clippers traded Griffin to the Detroit Pistons just seven months later. Griffin revealed the franchise unsuccessfully pushed him to shake Ballmer's hand for public relations optics during his return to Los Angeles, questioning why he had any obligation to do so.

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