Follow us on Google Discover Steve Ballmer shared a statement with the Los Angeles Clippers admitting wrongdoing in the Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention case.
The Los Angeles Clippers, and specifically team owner Steve Ballmer, were punished soundly by the NBA for their involvement in circumventing the league salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard.
Ballmer was fined $30 million and suspended from league activity for a year, with similar bans handed out to Gillian Zucker and Lawrence Frank.
And while earlier suggestions were that the billionaire would try to fight the NBA’s punishment legally, he and the team have now come out and taken responsibility for their actions.
Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty ImagesRead Steve Ballmer’s full LA Clippers statement as shared by Shams Charania
The Clippers lost five first-round picks over this fiasco and with immediate leadership a question mark, things don’t look too great for the franchise at the moment.
Their reported potential legal action would have further muddied waters. But based on Ballmer’s statement, the focus now seems to be simply to move on from this entire controversy.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is complying with the NBA’s punishments of the franchise for salary cap circumvention, deciding not to pursue any legal action. Statement from Ballmer:
This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I…
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 14, 2026
View Tweet
“This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets,” the statement from Ballmer reads.
“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.
MORE STEVE BALLMER STORIES
“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.
Will these be the tanking teams in the NBA next season? If not, who is?
“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 statement does still maintain that the Clippers disagree with some of the findings. However, Ballmer publicly taking responsibility is huge. This seems like a natural conclusion to one of the most dramatic sagas in recent NBA history.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox