Steve Ballmer to comply with Clippers' penalties: 'I have sincere regrets'
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said the team will comply with the penalties handed down by the NBA for salary cap circumvention.
In a statement released on September 13, Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer announced that the team will comply with the penalties imposed by the NBA for salary cap violations. The investigation, which lasted 11 months, found that the Clippers facilitated no-show endorsement deals for their former star forward, Kawhi Leonard.
Ballmer expressed sincere regret for the distraction and distress caused by the matter, apologizing to fans, employees, and fellow NBA owners. He accepted responsibility as principal owner and assured the public that the Clippers would put this chapter behind them. The NBA has assessed a fine of $30 million and the loss of five future first-round draft picks.
Ballmer, along with the team's executives, has been suspended. Kawhi Leonard was fined $700,000 for restitution related to covered personal expenses, but was not suspended for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The team's status for the following season remains uncertain, with Leonard expected to be traded to the Toronto Raptors pending the outcome of the investigation.
The NBA board of governors will begin their meetings in New York, and the U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly conducting a criminal inquiry into the Clippers' dealings with Leonard.
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