Category: Los Angeles Clippers

Brandon Ingram Has Partially Torn Achilles, Will Miss Start of Clippers Season

Brandon King

Brandon Ingram will not be ready for the start of the 2026-27 NBA season after being diagnosed with a partially torn Achilles tendon, the Los Angeles Clippers announced Monday. The injury was discovered during a May procedure to address Ingram’s heel issue. Clippers interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden said the Achilles injury was addressed during that surgery, but Ingram remains unavailable to begin the season. Ingram was acquired by the Clippers from the Toronto Raptors as part of the trade that sent Kawhi Leonard to Toronto. The 29-year-old…

Read More

Steve Ballmer Changes Course, Says Clippers Will Accept NBA Punishment

Brandon King

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is changing his approach to the NBA’s punishment of the franchise. In a statement released Sunday, Ballmer said the Clippers will accept the league’s sanctions and move forward rather than continue fighting the NBA over the findings. The change in tone comes after the Clippers previously indicated that they intended to challenge the league’s conclusions. Ballmer said he accepts responsibility as the Clippers’ principal owner and apologized to Clippers fans, employees and his fellow NBA owners. Ballmer: Time to Move Forward Ballmer’s latest statement…

Read More

Chris Paul Says Clippers’ Handling of His Final Season Was “One of the Most Disrespectful Things” He’s Ever Endured

Brandon King

Chris Paul is opening up about one of the most painful chapters of his legendary NBA career—and he isn’t holding back about the way his final season with the Los Angeles Clippers came to an end. Appearing on Daniel Lubetzky’s Build or Break podcast, the recently retired 12-time All-Star described the Clippers’ handling of his departure as “probably one of the most disrespectful things that I’ve endured.” For Paul, the situation wasn’t simply about basketball. It was personal. “Nobody Cares” Paul explained that his wife, children and those closest to…

Read More

ESPN’s Kawhi Leonard Report Is Under Major Scrutiny After NBA Drops Hammer on Clippers

Brandon King

Just weeks ago, ESPN reported that the NBA had found “no evidence” that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to Kawhi Leonard to circumvent the league’s salary cap. Now, the NBA’s completed investigation has produced a dramatically different picture. The league announced Wednesday that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by funneling millions of dollars to Leonard through third-party companies, including Aspiration, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics and Lockton Insurance. The consequences were enormous: The NBA’s investigative report says Ballmer, Zucker and Frank played roles in connecting Leonard with…

Read More

Clippers Fire Back at NBA After Historic Kawhi Leonard Punishment: ‘We Vehemently Reject’ Findings

Brandon King

The Los Angeles Clippers are not going quietly after receiving one of the most severe punishments in NBA history. Following the NBA’s sweeping sanctions stemming from its investigation into salary-cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers announced Wednesday that they “vehemently reject” the league’s findings and penalties and intend to challenge the ruling. The organization accused the NBA’s investigation of being “heavily biased” and claimed the league’s private communication with the franchise differed from what was announced publicly. “For the past year, we cooperated fully and in good faith and…

Read More

NBA Punishes Clippers With Historic Draft-Pick Penalty as Kawhi Leonard Breaks Silence

Brandon King

The NBA has handed down sweeping penalties against the Los Angeles Clippers following its investigation into alleged salary-cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard, resulting in one of the most significant punishments in league history. The Clippers have been ordered to forfeit five first-round draft picks, losing their selections in the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033 NBA Drafts. The league also suspended Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and president of business operations Gillian Zucker for their respective roles in the matter. Kawhi Leonard Issues Statement Leonard,…

Read More

NBA Pushes Back on ESPN Report Regarding Clippers Investigation

Brandon King

The NBA is disputing key details of ESPN’s reporting on the league’s ongoing investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers. NBA Chief Communications Officer Mike Bass released a statement Monday criticizing ESPN’s report, saying the league did not participate in the outlet’s reporting and that its conclusions are premature. “ESPN’s article regarding the LA Clippers investigation — for which the NBA declined to cooperate — contains numerous and significant inaccuracies. The results in this matter will be made clear once the investigation is concluded.” The statement comes after ESPN reported that…

Read More

NBA Finds No Evidence Steve Ballmer Funneled Sponsor Money to Kawhi Leonard

Brandon King

The NBA has reportedly found no evidence that Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard and circumvent the league’s salary cap. According to ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., Baxter Holmes and Ramona Shelburne, the NBA’s investigation found no evidence that Ballmer used Clippers sponsors as a way to provide Leonard with additional compensation outside of his NBA contract. The investigation stemmed in part from Leonard’s business relationship with Aspiration, a now-defunct sustainable financial services company that previously partnered with the Clippers. The…

Read More

Bradley Beal Returns to Clippers on Two-Year, $13.2 Million Deal

Brandon King

The Los Angeles Clippers are bringing back veteran guard Bradley Beal after agreeing to a two-year, $13.2 million contract that includes a player option for the second season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, citing Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports. Beal declined his previous $5.6 million player option earlier in free agency, allowing both sides to explore a new agreement that ultimately gives the three-time NBA All-Star a significant raise while keeping him in Los Angeles. The new deal also preserves flexibility for both Beal and the Clippers moving…

Read More

Report: NBA Seeking Punishment Steve Ballmer Will Accept in Kawhi Leonard Investigation

Brandon King

The NBA’s investigation involving Kawhi Leonard may be taking longer than expected because league officials are reportedly working to find a disciplinary outcome that Steve Ballmer will accept. According to reporter Vivek Jacob, there is a growing belief that the delay is tied to the NBA’s desire to preserve commissioner Adam Silver’s relationship with Ballmer, one of the league’s most influential owners. If accurate, the report suggests the league is carefully weighing both its investigative findings and the broader implications of any potential punishment. At this time, neither the NBA…

Read More