Kawhi Leonard Was Also Fined $700,000 as the Clippers Lost Five First-Round Picks and Several Executives Received Suspensions
The NBA handed down one of its harshest recent punishments Wednesday, suspending Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the franchise $30 million and stripping the team of five first-round draft picks after concluding the organization violated league salary cap circumvention rules.
Two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was also fined $700,000 following the nearly yearlong investigation. Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months, while team president of business operations Gillian Zucker received a one-year suspension.
Los Angeles will forfeit one first-round pick in each NBA Draft from 2029 through 2033.
“I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.”
NBA Investigation Focused on Leonard Endorsement Deal
The league launched its investigation in September 2025 after questions surfaced surrounding a $28 million endorsement agreement between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC.
Aspiration later filed for bankruptcy, and company co-founder Joseph Sanberg was sentenced earlier this year to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to defrauding investors and lenders of at least $248 million.
According to the NBA, Ballmer knowingly attempted to help Leonard secure off-court income opportunities and approved a business arrangement the league said was a prerequisite for Aspiration entering into an endorsement deal with the All-Star forward.
NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls on March 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun, File)
The NBA also found that Leonard, through his former business manager and uncle Dennis Robertson, pressured the Clippers to assist him with outside income opportunities and failed to reimburse the organization for certain personal expenses.
Leonard said he entered the agreements in good faith.
“I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap,” Leonard said.
Leonard also said he accepts responsibility for judgment lapses involving people around him.
“I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” he said.
Clippers Reject Findings, Promise Challenge
The Clippers strongly disputed the league’s conclusions Wednesday and said they intend to challenge the penalties.
“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,” the franchise said in a statement.
The Clippers said they plan to pursue “every avenue available” and seek an arbitration process.
Ballmer’s attorney, David Kelley, separately described the investigation as “a witch hunt” and the punishment as a “gross injustice.”
Kelley argued that the league itself did not conclude there was an explicit agreement between the Clippers and Aspiration to funnel money to Leonard. He also maintained that federal authorities considered Ballmer a victim of Sanberg’s fraud rather than a participant.
The NBA, however, said the penalties were agreed upon with the players’ union as final and binding.
The league added that the outside law firm overseeing the investigation continues to receive information and said additional disciplinary action remains possible.
Leonard Preparing for Return to Toronto
The ruling also clears another major issue involving Leonard’s future.
His proposed trade to the Toronto Raptors had remained on hold while the NBA investigation was unresolved. Toronto has continued expressing interest in bringing Leonard back to the franchise where he won the 2019 NBA championship and Finals MVP honors.
“As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate,” Leonard said.
Canadian Press via AP)
The NBA also placed the Clippers and certain team personnel under a five-year compliance and monitoring program. Robertson was banned from conducting business with NBA teams for five years.
Frank was disciplined for his involvement in the endorsement arrangements and for approving expenses involving Leonard and his family. Zucker was punished for what the NBA described as direct involvement in the improper endorsement arrangements and for lying to investigators.
Both executives will lose their salaries during their suspensions.
The punishment represents another salary-cap-related violation for the Clippers under Ballmer, who purchased the franchise for $2 billion in 2014. The NBA fined the Clippers $250,000 in 2015 for improperly including outside business opportunities while recruiting free agent DeAndre Jordan.
