The Los Angeles Clippers have been fined a record $30 million by the NBA for violating salary-cap rules in an alleged effort to secure millions of dollars in off-court income for star player Kawhi Leonard.
The punishment is the largest fine in NBA history and follows a month-long league investigation into the Clippers’ dealings with Leonard and his sponsorship arrangements.
In addition to the fine, the Clippers will forfeit five first-round draft picks between 2029 and 2033.
Team owner Steve Ballmer has also been suspended from all NBA and Clippers activities for 12 months over his involvement in matters relating to Leonard’s sponsorship contracts.
The NBA said its investigation found a “pattern of misconduct” and multiple significant rule violations by the Clippers, who had previously been punished for salary-cap circumvention.
According to the league, the organisation “knowingly” sought to help Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities.
The NBA said Leonard had pressured the Clippers into securing such opportunities and was successful in doing so.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he was “deeply disappointed” by what he described as the Clippers’ “flagrant violations” of league rules.
He added that the severity of the penalties reflected the seriousness of the violations.
Leonard, 35, has also been fined $700,000 by the NBA.
The Clippers’ president of business operations, Gillian Zucker, has been suspended without pay for one year after the league found that she provided misleading statements to investigators.
Following the NBA ruling, Leonard said he accepted responsibility for his actions and apologised for the controversy.
“I accept full responsibility for my actions and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” Leonard said in a statement posted on Instagram.
He maintained, however, that he entered into his Clippers contract and the related agreements in good faith and was unaware of any intention to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap.
Leonard joined the Clippers in 2019 after winning two NBA championships and two Finals MVP awards. He spent seven seasons with the franchise before leaving earlier in 2026.
The NBA has also placed the Clippers and their personnel under a five-year compliance and monitoring programme to ensure future adherence to league rules.
The sanctions mark one of the most severe disciplinary actions in NBA history and represent a major blow to the Clippers’ organisation.
