LA Clippers Fined $30M, Owner Suspended in Landmark Cap Circumvention Scandal

The NBA has imposed a significant punishment on the Los Angeles Clippers, issuing a $30 million fine and suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year due to a salary cap circumvention scandal involving star player Kawhi Leonard. The penalties, announced on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, also include the forfeiture of five first-round draft picks between 2029 and 2033, alongside a mandatory five-year compliance and monitoring program for the team.

The league's 11-month investigation concluded that the Clippers facilitated unauthorized off-court income opportunities for Leonard through alleged "no-show" endorsement deals with Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC, thereby circumventing salary cap rules. In addition to Ballmer's suspension, President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker received a one-year suspension, and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months.

Kawhi Leonard was personally penalized with a $700,000 fine in restitution, although he denied wrongdoing through his agent, stating he entered agreements in good faith and was unaware of any intent to bypass the salary cap. Leonard's uncle and former business manager, Dennis Robertson, has also been banned from engaging in business with NBA teams for five years. The Clippers have indicated they "vehemently reject" the findings and plan to challenge the sanctions.