NBA fines Los Angeles Clippers and suspends owner Steve Ballmer
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 3, 2026, 6:24 PM
Last updated Sep 3, 2026
The NBA issued penalties to the Los Angeles Clippers and team owner Steve Ballmer on Wednesday following findings of salary cap circumvention. The franchise received a $30 million fine and will forfeit five first-round draft picks. Ballmer is suspended for the upcoming season and barred from the Intuit Dome. Reports from a Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz investigation triggered the disciplinary action. The league scrutiny follows long-standing questions regarding team-building practices and player transactions, including the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard. The organization previously traded high-value assets and draft picks to construct its current roster, resulting in a combination of high costs and ongoing league investigation.
- •The Los Angeles Clippers received a $30 million fine from the NBA.
- •Steve Ballmer is suspended for one year and prohibited from entering the Intuit Dome.
- •The franchise will lose five first-round draft selections.
- •The penalties stem from an investigation into salary cap circumvention.
- •The league and the SEC are currently investigating scoreboard-related deals involving Kawhi Leonard.
- 6:24 PMYahoo Sports — ‘Steve Ballmer is lucky he hasn’t been banned’: ESPN analyst calls out Clippers owner’s ‘stupidity’
- 5:39 PMYahoo Sports — Steve Ballmer got off light while the Clippers will pay for years
"Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was recently handed a $30 million fine and suspended from all team and league operations for one year for his involvement in salary cap circumvention on behalf of Kawhi Leonard. News of the owner’s punishment broke yesterday and has been a major topic amongst league analysts and news outlets. On the…
"Steve Ballmer deserved a much more creative monetary penalty from the NBA.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 3, 2026, 6:24 PM‘Steve Ballmer is lucky he hasn’t been banned’: ESPN analyst calls out Clippers owner’s ‘stupidity’
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was recently handed a $30 million fine and suspended from all team and league operations for one year for his involvement in salary cap circumvention on behalf of Kawhi Leonard. News of the owner’s punishment broke yesterday and has been a major topic amongst league analysts and news outlets. On the…
- Yahoo SportsSep 3, 2026, 5:39 PMSteve Ballmer got off light while the Clippers will pay for years
Steve Ballmer deserved a much more creative monetary penalty from the NBA.
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