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NBA Suspends Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer for One Year in Salary Cap Probe

The NBA has suspended Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fined the team $30 million, and ordered the forfeiture of five first-round draft picks as a penalty for salary cap violations related to Kawhi Leonard.

3 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: NBA Suspends Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer for One Year in Salary Cap Probe — Archive photoPhoto: Dirk DBQ · Flickr · BY

The NBA has announced the suspension of Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for one year following an investigation into salary cap violations concerning player Kawhi Leonard. According to reports, the league's inquiry revealed a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, which had previously faced similar issues.

The league also imposed a hefty fine of $30 million on the team and mandated that the Clippers forfeit five first-round draft picks, one for each year starting in 2029. These penalties are part of the NBA's efforts to enforce its salary cap regulations more strictly and deter future violations.

The investigation reportedly took place over the course of a year and was conducted independently. It was initiated due to concerns about possible circumvention of salary cap rules associated with Leonard, who is a star player for the Clippers.

In addition to Ballmer's suspension, the team is disputing the NBA's findings and the validity of the investigation. No further details regarding the nature of their disputes have been publicly disclosed as of now.

Other executives within the Clippers organization have also faced suspensions related to the same investigation, emphasizing the league's serious approach to addressing these violations. However, specific details regarding the identities or the duration of the suspensions for these executives have not been provided by any sources.

The penalties imposed on the Clippers underscore the NBA's commitment to enforcing rules that govern fair play and financial integrity within the league. The circumstances surrounding Kawhi Leonard's contract and the team's broader compliance with salary cap regulations will likely attract significant scrutiny moving forward.

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