L.A. Clippers reportedly would not cooperate with NBA on its investigation into team, Leonard

The NBA in late July went to the Clippers and “gave them all the evidence they had” in the investigation into the Kawhi Leonard sponsor scandal in hopes the team would “cooperate and kind of admit to their faults … but the Clippers just would not do so,” according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The franchise “fought it at every turn,” and are still currently “vehemently denying the lengths to where this investigation went” (“Get Up,” ESPN, 9/3). In California, Janis Carr reported the Clippers, via a letter from attorney David Kelley sent to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, believe that the NBA is “looking to punish” owner Steve Ballmer and the team for something “all teams are allowed to do — introduce players to sponsors and vendors” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 9/2). In L.A., Henson & Swanson wrote the Clippers “most likely will have to take their claims to court.” A source said that there is “not an arbitration or appeal process.” Arbitration is reserved for players, and the NBA “declined to pursue use of it in this case” (L.A. TIMES, 9/2).

BALLMER PAYING THE PRICE: Ballmer has been suspended for the entire 2026-27 season as part of the NBA’s findings, and the WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Robert O’Connell noted the “most shocking development is the culpability laid squarely at the feet of Ballmer.” The NBA specifically cited Ballmer “for approving a business deal that he knew was a precondition” for environmental company Aspiration to enter into an endorsement deal with Leonard, and for his “failure to create conditions under which his organization abided by the NBA’s circumvention rules.” When the report of Leonard’s arrangement with Aspiration and the Clippers first emerged, Ballmer denied any wrongdoing, saying he was “conned” by Aspiration (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/2).

WHAT BALLMER CAN, CANNOT DO: With Ballmer suspended for the entire year, THE ATHLETIC’s Joe Vardon noted that means he cannot attend games or practices for any of the 30 NBA teams, nor can he appear at league events such as the All-Star Game, Emirates Cup, Finals, Draft or Combine. Suspended owners also “can’t go into team offices or influence personnel or business decisions.” Ballmer cannot talk to the media “about the Clippers on the court,” though he can “go on TV to defend himself against cap allegations.” Ballmer must “choose an interim governor who sits on the NBA’s board to make decisions on league business” (THE ATHLETIC, 9/2). Radio host Dan Patrick said, “Steve Ballmer can’t go to the games for a year. He loves to be there, loves to be on camera, loves to be dancing. Aside from Mark Cuban, I don’t know another owner that loves his team and loves being in the building, having a great time there. Now you don’t get to go” (“The Dan Patrick Show,” 9/3). Meanwhile, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said, “Steve Ballmer is lucky he hasn’t been banned and is being forced to sell the team. … With a year suspension, he’s getting off light” (“First Take,” ESPN, 9/3).

OTHER EXECS FACING LENGTHY BANS: Both Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank and President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker also face lengthy bans — six months for Frank; the entire 2026-27 season for Zucker — as part of the league’s findings. Frank was docked for his involvement with the “impermissible endorsement arrangements and for approving impermissible expenses incurred by Leonard and his family.” Zucker was cited for being “primarily and directly culpable for the illegal endorsement arrangements and for lying to investigators.” Both will “lose their salaries during their bans” (AP, 9/2). In Toronto, Bruce Arthur wrote Zucker “comes off as shockingly amateurish in her conduct both regarding Leonard and in dealing with the league’s investigators” (TORONTO STAR, 9/2).

REMINISCENT OF T’WOLVES SCANDAL: YAHOO SPORTS’ Dan Devine noted the league stripping the Clippers of five first-round picks is “in line with the punishment the NBA levied the last time it dealt with a case of salary-cap circumvention this dramatic and drastic” — the 2000 case involving the T’Wolves and Joe Smith. The league later returned the Wolves’ 2003 and 2005 first-round selections after owner Glen Taylor and GM Kevin McHale accepted their suspensions for their role in the plan. That means a precedent has been set in which the Clippers “could recoup some of the stripped assets.” However, given the ”ferocity with which the team is raging against the league’s findings and continuing to insist on its innocence, it might be a while before we see any kind of mea culpa that might make Silver start to feel generous” (YAHOO SPORTS, 9/2). CBSSPORTS.com’s Sam Quinn wrote precedent supports the Clippers getting some picks back, but that is “no certainty, and it’s hard to imagine what comes next from the Clippers won’t factor into what winds up happening here” (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/2).

IMPACT TO ON-COURT PRODUCT: The Ringer’s Zach Lowe said the Clippers “are somewhere beyond f—ed” from an on-court standpoint for the foreseeable future. Lowe: “This is as harsh of a penalty as you could have imagined.” He added, “For an organization that has struggled for relevancy for basically its entire existence, this is pretty close to a death knell for a decade. … This team is dead. The superstars aren’t going here when they’re out five first-round picks” (“The Zach Lowe Show,” Netflix, 9/2). ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser said, ”You go to the Clippers to play there now — this year, next year — you’re going into exile. Nobody’s going to want to go play there. They’re done as a franchise in the immediate future” (“PTI,” ESPN, 9/2). NBA Radio’s Frank Isola: “The next time we see the Clippers in anything that matters will be a while” (“The Starting Lineup,” NBA Radio, 9/3). Radio host Jim Rome said of the lost draft picks, “That’s going to hurt like hell. That’s going to really hurt. … You want to hurt a billionaire? Rip draft picks” (“The Jim Rome Show,” 9/2).

CLIPPERS ARE GOING TO CLIPPER: In L.A., Bill Plaschke wrote the Clippers “transformed themselves from the ridiculed Clip Joint to a top-shelf NBA organization, with the billionaire owner, the beautiful arena, the best coach and the most devoted fans.” However, they now have been “affixed with a scarlet eight letters that will follow them forever. Cheaters.” The Clippers “seemingly flouted the rules, got burned, got punished, and now you have to wonder, how on earth do they move forward from this?” (L.A. TIMES, 9/2). In California, Jim Alexander wrote, “All of this effort, all of these furtive negotiations with outside companies … and what was the result? No championships, one Western Conference finals appearance.” Ballmer since taking over the franchise turned the Clippers “into a big league organization, playing in a first-class facility and willing to pay top dollar to create a championship contender.” Alexander: “Perhaps this is what happens when you’re too ambitious” (Riverside PRESS-ENTERPRISE, 9/2).