Donald Sterling's Purchase of San Diego Clippers

In 1981, Donald Sterling bought the struggling San Diego Clippers franchise for $12.5 million, with the belief that it would eventually be worth much more. His purchase was influenced by a previous NBA sale by Jerry Bus, who had bought the Lakers and transformed them into a successful team. Sterling's acquisition of the Clippers, however, did not bring the desired success to the team. His focus on saving money rather than investing in players and facilities earned him a reputation as a cheap and ineffective owner.