Clippers owner Steve Ballmer will comply with NBA salary-cap punishment

The NBA began investigating the Clippers in September 2025.

The investigation followed reporting by journalist Pablo Torre.

The probe examined a $28 million endorsement contract between Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC.

Aspiration filed for bankruptcy last year.

Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to defrauding investors and lenders.

Sanberg pleaded guilty to defrauding investors and lenders of about $248 million to $250 million.

The NBA investigation lasted nearly a year.

The investigation was conducted by the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.

The investigation found a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers.

The NBA found the Clippers violated salary-cap circumvention rules involving Kawhi Leonard.

The league said Ballmer knowingly sought to help Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities.

The Clippers must forfeit five first-round draft picks in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033.

The NBA fined the Clippers $30 million.

The NBA suspended Ballmer from all league and team activities for one year.

Clippers president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended one year without pay.

Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended six months without pay.

Kawhi Leonard was ordered to pay the NBA $700,000.

Dennis Robertson was banned from conducting business with NBA teams for five years.

After the penalties were announced, the Clippers said they vehemently rejected the NBA's findings and called the investigation heavily biased.

Ballmer's attorney David Kelley wrote to Adam Silver describing the investigation as a witch hunt and the penalties as a gross injustice.

The Clippers said they would challenge the findings and penalties through every avenue available.

The Clippers had said they had done nothing wrong and expected to be exonerated.

Under the CBA, only the player and the union can take the case to arbitration, not the team.

Leonard's trade to the Toronto Raptors was put on hold pending the investigation.

The deal would send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and draft compensation to the Clippers.

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the Clippers' dealings with Leonard.

Sunday's statement was Ballmer's first public comments since the NBA announced the punishment.

The statement came 11 days after the NBA sanctioned Ballmer and the Clippers.

Steve Ballmer said Sunday night the Clippers will comply with the NBA's penalties.

Ballmer said the Clippers have paid the $30 million fine.

Ballmer said disagreements remain over the investigation's findings but that is not where he wants to focus.

Ballmer said team owners should support, not distract.

Ballmer said this has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers and he has sincere regrets.

Ballmer apologized to Clippers fans, employees, and fellow NBA owners for the distraction and distress.

Ballmer accepted responsibility as principal owner.

Ballmer said the Clippers are committing to put this chapter behind them and move forward.

Ballmer said the challenges ahead are significant but so is the team's resolve.

Ballmer said the Clippers will continue to build the team and invest in the community.

Ballmer said the confidence of Clippers fans is the priority.

Ballmer said with the roster, staff, and vision the Clippers will compete at the highest level and be an organization fans can be proud of.

The statement came ahead of NBA Board of Governors meetings Monday and Tuesday in New York.

The Clippers need to appoint an interim governor and someone to run basketball operations during the suspensions.

The Minnesota Timberwolves later received first-round picks back for complying with penalties in the 2000 Joe Smith salary-cap case.