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…
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NBA Punishes Clippers With Historic Draft-Pick Penalty as Kawhi Leonard Breaks Silence
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 MoreNBA Finds No Evidence Steve Ballmer Funneled Sponsor Money to Kawhi Leonard
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…
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