NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates 
The NBA handed down sweeping penalties to the Clippers, owner Steve Ballmer, team executives and star Kawhi Leonard following an investigation into allegations the group circumvented the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
The Clippers said in a statement that they “vehemently reject the NBA’s findings” and vowed to challenge them. Leonard issued a statement saying he had no direct knowledge of the alleged violations.
Advertisement
The findings announced Wednesday, the result of a nearly yearlong investigation conducted by Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, a high-powered New York law firm, determined the Clippers broke NBA rules by initiating off-court income opportunities between Leonard, their seven-time All-NBA forward, and four companies doing business with the team: Aspiration Partners, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics and Lockton Insurance.
The firm’s report stated that the Clippers facilitated endorsement agreements between the companies and Leonard, induced the companies to enter into the agreements by offering them business from the team, paid personal expenses on behalf of Leonard and his representatives and failed to report improper solicitations for off-court income made on Leonard’s behalf by Dennis Robertson, his uncle and business manager at the time.
The investigation found Leonard received $66 million in endorsement pay from four companies facilitated by Ballmer and Clippers executives at the behest of Robertson. Ballmer invested $60 million in Aspiration, and three other companies received $22 million from the Clippers in consulting fees.
As a result, the NBA issued the following sanctions:
Advertisement
The Clippers are forfeiting five first-round draft picks, in the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033 NBA drafts, and are fined $30 million.
Ballmer is suspended from all league and team activities for one year for “knowingly seeking to help Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities, for approving a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement agreement with Mr. Leonard, and for his failure to create conditions under which his organization abided by the NBA’s…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-hammers-clippers-steve-ballmer-205348049.html
Author :
Publish date : 2026-09-02 20:53:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
