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When Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA brought the hammer down on the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer, his first inclination was to fight. The Clippers quickly issued a defiant statement, then sent a two-page letter to the league saying they would look at their options for challenging the league’s decision.
Upon reflection and looking at those options, Ballmer released a statement Sunday night saying he and the Clippers would comply with the NBA’s punishments. He also apologized to Clippers’ fans. Here is the statement in full:
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“This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets. I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.
“We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward. While there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report, this is not where I want to focus. Team owners should support, not distract.
“The challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve. We will continue to build our team and invest in our community. The confidence of our fans is our priority. With our talented roster, outstanding staff and clear vision, I am certain that we will compete at the highest level and be an organization our fans can be proud of.”
The punishments handed down by Silver and the league came following a year-long investigation that uncovered four instances of the Clippers using their leverage to get team sponsors or business partners to give “no-show” endorsement contracts to star Kawhi Leonard, circumventing the salary cap. Those punishments were the stiffest handed down in league history and include:
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• The Clippers surrender five first-round draft picks (2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033).
• The Clippers are fined $30 million (which Ballmer said he has now paid).
• Ballmer is suspended from anything to do with the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/steve-ballmer-says-clippers-comply-041210998.html
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Publish date : 2026-09-14 04:12:00
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