Sep 17, 2021; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Intuit Dome. The arena, scheduled to open in 2024, will serve as the home of the Clippers and the team's practice facility and team offices. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The NBA came crashing down with severe punishment on Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday afternoon. And the team has fired back with a heavy-handed statement of their own, calling the whole investigation a “witch hunt.” They added that they will seek every legal avenue to address what they called “this gross injustice.” The league announced that it had indeed found that the Clippers were engaged in cap circumvention over the Kawhi Leonard third-party endorsement funds, and announced, among other things, that Ballmer was banned for a full year from all league and team activities for, and the Clips will lose FIVE first-round draft picks. The rest of the league’s penalties are as follows, as outlined by ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azerly:
The NBA has announced their findings from the Kawhi Leonard investigation and HEAVILY punished the LA Clippers. — Clippers forfeit 5 first-round draft picks – one in each of the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 NBA Drafts. — Clippers are fined $30 million. — Clippers owner… pic.twitter.com/3hSnS82Z6F — Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) September 2, 2026
NBA’s punishment for Clippers includes 5 forfeited first-rounders & $30M fine — Clippers forfeit 5 first-round draft picks – one in each of the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 NBA Drafts. — Clippers are fined $30 million. — Owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from all league and team activities for one year for knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities, for approving a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement agreement with Mr. Leonard, and for his failure to create conditions under which his organization abided by the NBA’s circumvention rules. — Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker is suspended without pay for 1 year — Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank is suspended without pay for 6 months — The Clippers organization and personnel are subject to a compliance and monitoring program overseen by the league office for a period of five years. — In connection with his violations, Mr. Leonard is required to pay the league $700,000. — Dennis Robertson (aka ‘Uncle Dennis’, Kawhi’s “agent” at the time) is banned from conducting business or otherwise engaging with NBA teams and their affiliates on behalf of or with respect to any player, employee, or other league or team personnel for a period of 5 years. Upon reading the league’s stunning announcement, the Clippers shot back with the following letter addressed to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver:
The Clippers have sent the following letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver: pic.twitter.com/qWYx3gm3fN — Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 2, 2026
Clippers ‘vehemently reject’ NBA’s findings, to take ‘every legal remedy to address this gross injustice
“Dear Commissioner Silver: Almost one year ago today, you announced that the league would be investigating podcast allegations that the Los Angeles Clippers engaged in salary cap circumvention by funneling money to Kawhi Leonard through a “no-show” contract with a Clippers sponsor, Aspiration. In announcing that investigation, you represented that “due process” and “a fundamental sense of fairness” would govern the process… Unfortunately, none of those promises have been kept… This investigation has permanently strained relationships with key Clippers stakeholders… And Mr. Ballmer’s reputation has been irreparably damaged as he now finds himself embroiled not only in this heavily biased investigation, but in civil litigation, the Aspiration bankruptcy proceeding, and more. It seems increasingly likely that Mr. Ballmer will spend years defending himself and the team against a podcaster’s baseless claims… We vehemently reject the NBA’s findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence… This investigation has been flawed from the outset. And your decision to issue this report without any notice to the Clippers or their counsel is inexcusable. This type of witch hunt flies in the face of fundamental fairness and of the integrity of the league and of this sport that we all love. We are exploring every legal remedy to address this gross injustice.”
NBA’s rulings on Clippers are final — No formal appeal process Safe to say, we haven’t heard the end of this drama just yet. Though Shams Charania has noted that “The NBA’s rulings are final — there is no formal appeal or arbitration process available to the Clippers with the league. LA’s only outlet to fight the punishment is in court.” But for the Toronto Raptors and Kawhi Leonard, it appears that life will go on as planned. Kawhi gets off near-scott-free, fined $700,000 and nothing more. No suspension, no voided contract. He’ll head back north of the border with his $50M contract intact for the 2026-27 season. He & the Raptors will also no doubt get back to their discussions about a two-year extension in the $120M range. Related Headlines
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