Kawhi Leonard issues statement following NBA salary cap circumvention penalty

The NBA concluded a year-long investigation into salary cap circumvention by the Los Angeles Clippers, resulting in significant sanctions for the organization. Owner Steve Ballmer received a $30 million fine and a one-year suspension, while the team will forfeit five future first-round draft picks. Executives Lawrence Frank and Gillian Zucker also face suspensions. Kawhi Leonard received a $700,000 fine for his involvement, and his uncle, Dennis Robertson, was banned from all NBA dealings. Following the league's announcement, Leonard released a statement claiming he entered his contract in good faith and had no knowledge of any intent to circumvent league rules. He admitted to lapses in judgment by his inner circle but emphasized his commitment to the game. Many observers expressed dissatisfaction with the severity of the penalty, suggesting the consequences for the player were inadequate given the nature of the infractions.

• 2:56 AMYahoo Sports — ‘Should be worse’ – NBA fans aren’t buying Kawhi Leonard’s statement after ‘measly’ $700K penalty