Steve Ballmer and the Clippers accept NBA sanctions after Kawhi Leonard investigation

Steve Ballmer, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, announced on Sunday that the organization will comply with the penalties imposed by the NBA after an investigation found salary-cap circumvention linked to Kawhi Leonard’s sponsorship deals.

As Bleacher Report reports, the NBA fined the club $30 million and imposed a one-year suspension on Ballmer; business operations president Gillian Zucker received a one-year unpaid suspension; basketball operations president Lawrence Frank was given a six-month unpaid suspension; and the club must forfeit five first-round picks in the 2029–2033 period.

In the official statement, Ballmer said the team will abide by the league’s decisions and cooperate during the implementation of the sanctions. The club gave no further details on next steps or any possible appeal, while the consequences are expected to affect the team’s roster-building strategy in the coming seasons.

Any further developments on this matter will be followed by media and league analysts; for further coverage and updates on the NBA’s decision, see the Bleacher Report reporting.