The NBA fined the LA Clippers $30 million and suspended owner Steve Ballmer for one year following an investigation into violations involving star player Kawhi Leonard. The league found that Leonard and the team breached the Collective Bargaining Agreement through a series of off-the-court income arrangements. The announcement came on Wednesday after a nearly year-long independent probe into the Clippers’ dealings, including endorsement deals and third-party company relationships, according to fortune.com.
The investigation centered on Leonard’s $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration, a now-bankrupt environmental company and former Clippers sponsor. Ballmer had invested $60 million in Aspiration before and after Leonard’s deal. The NBA’s findings revealed that the Clippers initiated additional off-court income opportunities for Leonard with three other companies: Boingo Wireless, Daktronics, and Lockton Insurance. The probe was launched after podcaster Pablo Torre exposed the endorsement deal as a potential salary cap circumvention in 2025.
This case highlights the NBA’s strict enforcement of salary cap and income rules designed to maintain competitive balance. The Clippers’ $30 million fine is among the largest penalties imposed on a team for such violations. The suspension of a high-profile owner like Ballmer underscores the league’s commitment to addressing misconduct beyond player contracts. Similar past cases have resulted in fines and suspensions but rarely at this scale, marking a notable precedent in NBA governance.
Steve Ballmer’s suspension is effective immediately and will last one year, during which he cannot participate in team operations. The Clippers must pay the $30 million fine within 30 days, the NBA stated. The league’s disciplinary measures follow the public disclosure of the investigation’s findings on September 3, 2026, closing a significant chapter in the Clippers’ organizational conduct.