NBA penalizes Clippers and Leonard for salary cap violations

The NBA punished the Los Angeles Clippers on September 2, 2026, for breaking salary cap rules. The team was fined $30 million and lost five first-round draft picks between 2029 and 2033. Owner Steve Ballmer received a one-year ban from all league activities. Two senior team officials were also suspended without pay. Player Kawhi Leonard was fined $700,000. The NBA found that the Clippers had arranged outside business deals for Leonard through companies connected to the team. Leonard's uncle and former business manager, Dennis Robertson, pushed the team to create these opportunities. A law firm investigated the case after a journalist reported the wrongdoing. The NBA called it one of the harshest punishments in league history.