The NBA has handed Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer a one-year suspension and fined the team $30 million for violating salary cap circumvention rules in a case involving star player Kawhi Leonard.
Key facts
- Clippers owner Steve Ballmer suspended for one year by the NBA.
- The Los Angeles Clippers fined $30 million.
- Kawhi Leonard fined $700,000, according to NPR.
- The team will forfeit five first-round draft picks, one each year starting in 2029, according to CNBC.
The NBA has suspended Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for one year and fined the franchise $30 million after finding it violated salary cap circumvention rules in a case involving star player Kawhi Leonard, according to reports from NPR, CNBC and the BBC.
NPR reported that Ballmer was suspended for one year and the team was ordered to pay $30 million for violating salary cap circumvention rules in a case involving Leonard. The BBC similarly reported the $30 million fine, noting the sum is equivalent to about £22.2 million, over the acquisition of the player.
Alongside the financial penalty against the club, NPR reported that Leonard himself was fined $700,000 in the cap circumvention case.
The consequences extend to the team’s future roster-building ability. According to CNBC, the Clippers will forfeit five first-round draft picks, with one pick lost in each year in drafts starting in 2029.
The salary cap in the NBA is designed to limit how much teams can spend on player salaries, and circumvention rules are intended to prevent franchises from using arrangements that get around those limits. The penalties announced represent action by the league against the Clippers over how Leonard’s acquisition was handled.
The sources reviewed did not include comment from Ballmer, Leonard or the Clippers, and did not detail the specific arrangements the league found to be in violation of its rules.
Why it matters
The penalties are among the most significant a league can impose on a team owner, combining a rare one-year suspension with a major fine and the loss of multiple draft picks. The outcome signals how seriously the NBA treats attempts to circumvent its salary cap, which underpins competitive balance across the league.
Frequently asked questions
What penalties did the NBA impose on the Clippers?
The NBA suspended owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fined the team $30 million, and, according to CNBC, the team will forfeit five first-round draft picks, one in each year starting in 2029.
Was Kawhi Leonard penalized?
According to NPR, Kawhi Leonard was fined $700,000 in the salary cap circumvention case.
Why was the team penalized?
The NBA found the Clippers violated salary cap circumvention rules in a case involving the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard, according to the reports.