The yearlong investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers finally reached its conclusion on Tuesday, and the punishment was more severe than almost anyone expected. The decision has left the NBA world in shock, and rightfully so.
Kawhi Leonard issued a written statement within minutes of the NBA handing down its ruling.
What Did Kawhi Leonard Say?
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the NBA has ruled on the Clippers’ salary cap circumvention investigation involving Leonard following a yearlong investigation.
The league is stripping the franchise of five first-round draft picks, issuing a $30 million fine to owner Steve Ballmer, and handing down suspensions for Ballmer, general manager Lawrence Frank, and executive Gillian Zucker.
Leonard will have to pay $700,000 over improper benefits provided by the Clippers involving his uncle and former business representative, Dennis Robertson. Leonard’s contract was not voided, and he was not suspended.
Robertson, whom Leonard fired in June, has been banned by the league for five years from all future business dealings with NBA teams.
Post from Kawhi Leonard IG: pic.twitter.com/jRA8fSsLaA
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 2, 2026
Leonard addressed the ruling directly in his Instagram post.
“Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am. I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” Leonard said.
“I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap.”
“For 15 years, my priority has been giving everything to my family, the game, and those I share the court with. As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate.”
The Clippers will reportedly forfeit their first-round picks in the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 drafts, among the harshest penalties ever levied against a franchise for cap circumvention.
The league’s investigation stemmed from reporting last September alleging that Ballmer used a personal $50 million investment in the now-bankrupt startup Aspiration to facilitate a no-show endorsement deal benefiting Leonard, an allegation the owner has repeatedly denied.
Despite the scale of the league’s punishment against the organization, Charania’s reporting indicates the trade is still expected to be completed as planned, closing the book on Leonard’s tenure with the Clippers under a cloud that will now follow the franchise for years to come.
The decision to slap the Clippers with such a heavy punishment will surely set them back years. They will struggle to build for the future and will definitely have to build from scratch once again.
