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NBA Hits Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer With One-Year Ban Over Salary Cap Violations
Consumer Services · Other Consumer Services · cnbc · 2026-09-02
The NBA has suspended Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for one year and imposed severe penalties, including a $30 million fine, for salary cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard.
What Happened
Disciplinary Action and Suspension: The NBA has issued a one-year suspension to Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer following an investigation into salary cap circumvention. This significant disciplinary measure stems from findings that the organization bypassed league rules to facilitate off-court income for star player Kawhi Leonard.
Financial and Draft Penalties: Beyond the personal suspension for Ballmer, the Clippers organization faces a substantial $30 million fine. The team is also mandated to forfeit five first-round draft picks spanning from 2029 through 2033, marking one of the most severe collective punishments in recent league history.
Circumvention Findings: The league investigation concluded that Leonard pressured the franchise to assist in securing unauthorized income streams and failed to reimburse the team for personal expenses. Ballmer was found to have knowingly facilitated these arrangements, including approving business deals that served as prerequisites for endorsement agreements.
Organizational Accountability: The NBA emphasized that Ballmer failed to maintain an environment where his organization adhered to established salary cap regulations. This ruling underscores the league's commitment to enforcing strict financial parity rules and holding team ownership directly accountable for operational misconduct.