Steve Jobs and Steve Ballmer were competitors during their time as CEOs of Apple and Microsoft respectively, and now it seems that the Jobs vs. Ballmer competition continues in an altogether different arena.

The competition in question concerns a quest to buy the L.A. Clippers from embattled Clippers owner Donald Sterling. Ballmer has reportedly placed a $2 billion for the basketball team: an offer which would triple the record for an NBA franchise.

One of the roadblocks in his acquisition plan? None other than Steve Jobs’ widow, Laurene Powell Jobs. Jobs is partnering with several other tech and entertainment magnates, including Oracle software co-founder Larry Ellison, and new Apple employee (and reported special adviser to Tim Cook) Jimmy Iovine.

They have made a $1.6 billion bid, although it’s not yet known whether they’d be willing to raise that to match Ballmer’s offer.

There are several additional offers for the franchise, but Sterling says he isn’t definitely selling.

“Mr. Sterling has not agreed to sell the team to Mr. Ballmer or anyone else — will that change? I don’t know,” Mr. Sterling’s attorney Max Blecher said late Thursday.

Source: Nasdaq