Clippers Hit With Record Sanctions Over Secret Kawhi Endorsements to Skirt the Salary Cap
The NBA findings allege the Los Angeles Clippers, led by billionaire Steve Ballmer, orchestrated off-the-record endorsement deals for Kawhi Leonard with multiple companies to evade the league’s salary-cap rules. The league imposed its harshest penalties to date: a $30 million fine, the loss of first-round picks for five years (2029–2033), a one-year suspension for Ballmer, a one-year suspension for president of business operations Gillian Zucker, and a six-month ban for president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. The Clippers deny the charges and plan to appeal; Leonard acknowledged lapses by people in his inner circle, including his uncle and business manager, with on-court impact limited by injuries and the franchise facing a long path to competitiveness.