Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has reversed course and will not contest the NBA's salary cap circumvention penalties, which include a $30 million fine, a one-year league suspension for Ballmer, and the forfeiture of five future first-round draft picks. The team has already paid the fine.
In his first public comments since the penalties were announced, Ballmer stated that while disagreements remain regarding the league's findings, his focus should not be on these issues. "Team owners should support, not distract," he said in a statement posted online Sunday night.
Ballmer also issued an apology to Clippers fans, employees, and fellow NBA owners for the "distraction and distress" stemming from the investigation. He accepted responsibility as the principal owner for the matter.
The NBA's nearly year-long investigation, conducted by an outside law firm, centered on allegations that the Clippers violated league rules involving Kawhi Leonard's contract. The league determined that Ballmer knowingly assisted Leonard in securing off-court income deals, approved a business arrangement he knew was a prerequisite for an endorsement contract with Leonard, and failed to ensure his team adhered to league regulations.
Previously, the Clippers had vehemently rejected the NBA's findings, labeling the investigation as heavily biased. Ballmer's attorney, David Kelley, had described the probe as a "witch hunt" and the penalties as a "gross injustice."
The investigation was prompted by reports in September 2025 concerning a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC, a company that has since filed for bankruptcy. Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg was previously sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for defrauding investors and lenders of at least $248 million.
Ballmer expressed the team's commitment to moving past this issue, stating, "The challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve." He added that the team will continue to build its roster, invest in the community, and prioritize fan confidence, asserting certainty in competing at the highest level.
Leonard's trade to the Toronto Raptors had been pending the investigation's outcome. The Raptors have indicated their continued interest in acquiring Leonard, who previously led the team to an NBA title and earned Finals MVP honors in 2019.