(File Photo) Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

LOS ANGELES – The Steve Ballmer era has officially begun for the Los Angeles Clippers.

More importantly, the Donald Sterling days are finally over.

Before the Clippers tipped off their regular season against the Oklahoma City Thunder team that downed them in the Western Conference Semifinals amid so much controversy, the newness went beyond the ownership transfer that saw the former Microsoft CEO pay a league-record $2 billion for this once-fledgling franchise. There were new lights inside the Staples Center that will only be in use for Clippers and Los Angeles Kings games, with the court brightened and the crowd darkened to create a dramatic effect.

There were new players like Spencer Hawes and Jordan Farmar, free agent pickups who weren’t around when the racially-charged Sterling saga sucked so much life out of this building five months ago.

With NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on hand and the in-house feel so much different than it was back then, it was somewhat surprising that Ballmer – whose passion is nothing short of legendary – didn’t grab the microphone to say hello to his new team’s fans after singer and Los Angeles area native Fergie sang the national anthem.

Instead, Clippers forward Blake Griffin welcomed in the new season.

“We’ve been working hard,” Griffin said. “We can’t wait for this season, and we can’t wait to share it with you guys.”

Before the festivities, Clippers coach Doc Rivers admitted that he wondered if the 2014-15 season might have begun with the Sterling situation still dragging on in court.

“I didn’t think there was any way, at least (at) mid-summer, that we would be done with all the stuff,” Rivers said. “I’m very happy about it. It’s good to just kind of start this new thing that we have going, but I didn’t anticipate it at all. I didn’t think it would happen this quick… It’s nice for everybody.”