Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer will not contest the NBA’s sweeping sanctions over salary cap circumvention, reversing the team’s early defiance and its earlier promise to oppose what it called “a heavily biased investigation.”
In his initial public statement since the NBA delivered major disciplinary measures against the Clippers this month, Ballmer stated in an official message published online Sunday evening that the franchise will comply with all league penalties.
The NBA suspended Ballmer for one year, levied a $30 million fine against the franchise, and stripped five first-round draft picks.
Ballmer confirmed the franchise has remitted the fine.
“While there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report, this is not where I want to focus,” he said. “Team owners should support, not distract.”
Ballmer apologized to Clippers fans, team staff, and fellow owners for the “distraction and distress” created by the inquiry into salary cap circumvention violations involving Kawhi Leonard.
“This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets,” Ballmer wrote. “I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.”
The league imposed severe disciplinary measures on the franchise following an inquiry lasting nearly a year, conducted by an external law firm. The Clippers had repeatedly maintained their innocence and stated they expected full exoneration.
After the penalty announcement, the team said it “vehemently” rejected the league’s findings and called it “a heavily biased investigation.”
The Clippers also made public a letter from Ballmer’s lawyer, David Kelley, to Silver, describing the league’s probe as “a witch hunt” and characterizing the sanctions as a “gross injustice.”
The NBA launched its probe in September 2025 to determine whether a $28 million endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC — a firm that filed for bankruptcy last year — breached salary rules, following reporting from journalist Pablo Torre.
Earlier this year, Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg received a 14-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to defrauding investors and lenders of at least $248 million.
League officials asserted that Ballmer knowingly sought to assist Leonard in securing off-court income deals, approved a corporate transaction he recognized was a prerequisite for Aspiration to complete the endorsement deal with Leonard, and failed to maintain proper conditions to ensure team compliance with league rules.
Ballmer noted that the organization is “committed to putting this chapter behind us.”
“The challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve,” he said. “We will continue to build our team and invest in our community. The confidence of our fans is our priority. With our talented roster, outstanding staff and clear vision, I am certain that we will compete at the highest level and be an organization our fans can be proud of.”
Leonard’s pending trade to the Toronto Raptors remains on hold awaiting the conclusion of the league inquiry. The Raptors have expressed a continued desire to acquire Leonard, who is reportedly equally eager to return to the team where he led the franchise to an NBA title and won Finals MVP in 2019.
