NBA Fines Clippers $30 Million, Strips Draft Picks for Kawhi Leonard Salary Cap Violations
Axios (Tổng hợp từ Al Jazeera English)
The NBA punished the Los Angeles Clippers with a $30 million fine, loss of five first-round picks, and suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer and other executives for violating salary cap rules linked to Kawhi Leonard. Leonard himself was fined $700,000, but the team denies wrongdoing and will appeal.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has fined the Los Angeles Clippers $30 million, stripped five first-round draft picks from 2029 to 2033, and suspended owner Steve Ballmer along with several senior executives for violating salary cap rules related to forward Kawhi Leonard. Leonard himself was fined $700,000.
The league’s year-long independent investigation, conducted by law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, determined that the Clippers organization engaged in “long-standing misconduct and serious violations” of league rules designed to prevent salary cap circumvention. According to the NBA’s statement, the team introduced Leonard to sponsors to create off-court earning opportunities, used business deals with companies as leverage for endorsement agreements, and paid personal expenses for Leonard and his representatives.
Related businesses included Boingo Wireless, Daktronics, Lockton Insurance, and Aspiration Partners—a financial technology company that went bankrupt last year. Aspiration reportedly signed a $28 million endorsement deal with Leonard and had a $300 million, 23-year sponsorship agreement with the Clippers.
The NBA suspended owner Steve Ballmer for one year, barring him from all league and team activities, for “deliberately helping Leonard secure off-court income opportunities,” approving a business arrangement he knew was a prerequisite for Aspiration’s deal with Leonard, and failing to ensure the organization’s compliance. Chief Operating Officer Gillian Zucker was suspended for one year without pay, deemed primarily responsible for the illegal endorsement deals and for providing false information to investigators. President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank received a six-month unpaid suspension for his involvement in the agreements and approval of unauthorized payments to Leonard and his family.
The Clippers issued a statement rejecting the NBA’s findings, calling the investigation “severely biased” and aimed at “justifying a predetermined narrative rather than being grounded in facts and evidence.” The team said it cooperated fully and in good faith throughout the year and will “challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available,” expecting a fair arbitration process.
Leonard, through his new agent Harrison Gaines, said he “was not aware of anyone attempting to circumvent the salary cap.” He accepted responsibility for the oversight of those in his inner circle and expressed regret for the distraction caused to fans and his family. Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, who previously served as his business manager, was banned by the NBA from working with teams and partners for five years due to improper off-court compensation requests.
Earlier, the Toronto Raptors—the team that won the 2019 championship with Leonard—had reached a tentative agreement on June 30 to bring him back. The deal was never finalized while awaiting the NBA’s investigation. The league and the Players Association agreed that the penalties are final and binding.
Commissioner Adam Silver expressed “deep disappointment” over the serious violations and the Clippers organization’s failure to comply. Leonard, 35, a two-time NBA Finals MVP with San Antonio (2014) and Toronto (2019), averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game for the Clippers last season.
