The LA Clippers have been fined $30 million by the National Basketball Association (NBA) for violating salary rules in connection with star player Kawhi Leonard's contract. The penalty, the largest in the league's history, stems from findings that the Clippers knowingly sought to help Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated he was "deeply disappointed" by the "flagrant violations" and that the penalties reflect the seriousness of the infractions. In addition to the fine, the Clippers will forfeit five first-round draft picks between 2029 and 2033. Owner Steve Ballmer has been suspended from all league and team activities for 12 months for his involvement with Leonard's sponsorship contracts during his tenure with the franchise.
Two-time NBA champion Leonard himself has been fined $700,000 by the league. The team's president of business operations, Gillian Zucker, received a one-year suspension without pay for providing "misleading statements to investigators." The NBA's month-long investigation uncovered a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, which the league identified as a prior offender of salary-cap circumvention rules.
Leonard, 35, accepted responsibility for his actions, expressing regret for the distraction the situation caused. He stated that he entered into his contract with the Clippers and the agreements in question in good faith, with no knowledge of any intent to circumvent the salary cap. Leonard joined the Clippers in 2019. The NBA has mandated that both the organization and its personnel will be subject to a compliance and monitoring program overseen by the league for five years.