# Steve Ballmer's Clippers Shirt Pitch

> Steve Ballmer had Clippers staff wear shirts comparing Blake Griffin to MLK, Lincoln and Gandhi before trading him.
- Title: Steve Ballmer's Clippers Shirt Pitch · EssentiallySports
- Summary: Steve Ballmer had Clippers staff wear shirts comparing Blake Griffin to MLK, Lincoln and Gandhi before trading him. Blake Griffin recalls Steve Ballmer's…
- Keywords: steve ballmer, blake griffin, los angeles clippers, nba, mlk, abraham lincoln, mahatma gandhi, nelson mandela, barack obama, john f kennedy, muhammad ali, albert einstein
- Source: EssentiallySports — https://essentiallysports.com/nba-legends-basketball-news-steve-ballmer-had-staffs-wear-shirts-comparing-blake-griffin-to-mlk-lincoln-and-gandhi-in-clipper-for-life-pitch-before-trading-him-los-angeles-clippers
- Author: Shahul Hameed
- Published: 2026-10-21T04:56:32+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: steve ballmer, blake griffin, los angeles clippers, nba, mlk, abraham lincoln, mahatma gandhi, nelson mandela, barack obama, john f kennedy, muhammad ali, albert einstein
## The Shirt Pitch
Steve Ballmer had Clippers staff wear shirts comparing Blake Griffin to historical figures before trading him.
## Shirt Design
The shirt labeled 'Pioneers' featured Griffin alongside MLK, Lincoln, Gandhi, Mandela, Obama, Kennedy, Ali, Einstein and Michael Jackson.
## Trade Details
The Clippers traded Griffin to Detroit for Willie Reed, Brice Johnson, Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanović, a protected first-round pick and a second-round pick.
## Griffin's Reaction
Griffin recalled seeing the shirt but didn't think much of it until it exploded on Twitter.

> So I do have a shirt now. I don’t think I kept it at the time
## Trade Outcome
The trade happened in January 2018 after Griffin signed a five-year $173 million contract in July 2017.
## Aftermath
Griffin refused to shake Ballmer's hand after the trade, saying he wasn't obligated to do so.

> Why was I obligated
## Key takeaway

Blake Griffin recalls Steve Ballmer's staff wearing shirts placing him with historical figures before trading him to Detroit.