NBA Suspends Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer, Fines Team $30 Million For Violating League’s Salary Cap Rules

The NBA has suspended Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for one year and fined the team $30 million for violating salary cap rules related to Kawhi Leonard. The franchise will also forfeit five first-round draft picks and face a five-year monitoring program. President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker received a one-year suspension, and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank received a six-month suspension.

• NBA suspends Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for one year.
• Los Angeles Clippers fined $30 million for salary cap circumvention.
• Franchise forfeits five first-round draft picks, starting in 2029.
• Clippers to be subject to a five-year compliance and monitoring program.
• Gillian Zucker, President of Business Operations, suspended for one year without pay.
• Lawrence Frank, President of Basketball Operations, suspended for six months without pay.
• Steve Ballmer knowingly helped Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities worth millions.
• Kawhi Leonard must pay $700,000 in restitution for improper benefits.
• Dennis Robertson, Leonard’s former business representative, banned from all business dealings.