In a survey of 31 people around the NBA conducted by The Athletic, Steve Ballmer rates as the best owner in the league. Mike Vorkunov spoke with 13 executives, 10 front office personnel, six scouts and two coaches, asking them to cast their votes for the three best and worst team owners.

Ballmer ranked first with 20.5 votes, followed by Micky Arison (14), Mark Cuban (11) and Joe Lacob/Peter Guber (10.5).

“I would say Ballmer is No. 1,” said another scout. “His enthusiasm, his willingness to spend money, what he’s done with the Clippers, forging into L.A., creating their own identity, and building their own building now, that’s bad news.”

“Ballmer is the best because it’s: ‘Hey Steve, we need this,'” an agent said. “OK, boom.”

Vivek Ranadive (23.5), Robert Sarver (23) and James Dolan (21) received the most votes in the survey for worst owners.

“His intentions are good but in terms of hiring the basketball people and letting them do their work, he both hires bad basketball people and doesn’t let them do their work,” an executive said or Ranadive. “That’s a bad combination.”