Los Angeles Clippers hit by historic Kawhi Leonard penalty

The Los Angeles Clippers will lose significant financial and sporting resources after the NBA sanctioned the franchise over arrangements involving Kawhi Leonard. The punishment includes a $30 million fine, the forfeiture of five first-round draft picks between 2029 and 2033, and a 12-month suspension for owner Steve Ballmer. The measures will affect the organisation’s planning and future squad-building for years.

The NBA concluded an investigation lasting nearly a month by finding that the Clippers had deliberately sought to help Leonard secure off-court earning opportunities linked to sponsorship and commercial agreements. The league treated the conduct as multiple serious breaches of its salary-cap rules. Ballmer’s suspension prevents him from taking part in league or team activities during the ban.

Leonard, who joined the Clippers in 2019 and left at the start of this year after seven seasons, was fined $700,000. The two-time NBA Finals MVP denied knowingly taking part in an effort to evade the salary-cap regulations, saying he had signed the relevant agreements in good faith and had not known of any intention to break the rules.

The NBA also suspended Clippers commercial operations president Gillian Zucker for one year without pay after determining that she gave investigators false information. The franchise and some staff members will operate under enhanced league supervision and a five-year compliance programme.