LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 10: Team owner Steve Ballmer of the LA Clippers looks on during the second half of a game against the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena on January 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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No longer will the Los Angeles Clippers pursue litigation to dispute the NBA’s punishment for their role in Kawhi Leonard’s salary cap circumvention case. Instead, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer announced on Sunday night that he has accepted the punishments begrudgingly.
“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,” Ballmer said in a written statement. “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.”
That starkly contrasts to the Clippers’ reaction when the NBA announced its punishment 11 days ago after an outside law firm (Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz) and “found a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization.” The Clippers had called the investigation “a witch hunt” after the NBA stripped the Clippers away from five first-round picks (2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033), fined the organization $30 million and issues suspensions to key employees. That included Ballmer (one year), president of business operations Gillian Zucker (one year without pay) and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank (six months without pay).The NBA has authority to issues such punishments through the league’s collective bargaining agreement. But the Clippers said they would be “exploring every legal remedy to address the gross injustice.”
Not anymore.
“For my Los Angeles Clippers followers, this has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets,” Ballmer said in a written statement. “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.”
Ballmer didn’t exactly concede ground on the NBA’s conclusion that he knowingly sought to help Leonard land endorsement deals and approved a business relationship that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter an endorsement agreement with Leonard. But Ballmer’s comments could lay the ground work for possibly softening the punishment. After the NBA determined the Minnesota Timberwolves committed salary-cap circumvention with Joe Smith’s contract in 2000, the league handed out one-year suspensions to owner Glen Taylor, docked five first-round picks and issued a $3.5 million fine. The NBA eventually granted the Wolves a first-round pick for their compliance. Ballmer also announced his apology before the NBA’s Board of Governor’s meeting scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in New York City.
Regardless, Ballmer cannot participate in any league and team activities for one year, including overseeing any meetings and attending any games.
“The challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve,” Silver said in a written statement. “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.”
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