After a prolonged investigation, Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers were found guilty of salary cap circumvention, with the NBA handing down sweeping penalties against the franchise and several key figures.
The league’s probe uncovered multiple violations, and the findings have since sparked strong reactions across the NBA, with many criticizing the Clippers’ handling of the situation.
Kawhi Leonard Scandal Sparks Wild NBA Reactions After Revelatory Clippers Report
The NBA placed no restrictions on the scope or duration of its investigation into the Leonard scandal, directing Wachtell Lipton to take whatever steps were necessary to uncover the complete set of relevant facts. The investigation ultimately found enough evidence to establish several violations of NBA rules.
The penalties of the scandal included a $30 million fine and a one-year suspension for Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. Team president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for one year without pay, while president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank received a six-month suspension without pay.
The report also revealed several details surrounding the Clippers’ dealings with Leonard and his representatives. As The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov highlighted, Dennis Robertson, Leonard’s uncle, approached the Clippers months after Leonard signed with the team and sought roughly $10 million in off-court income.
Robertson reportedly discussed the matter with Frank and Ballmer, while he had complained by April 2020 that the additional income had yet to materialize. According to the report, the Clippers told him they would make it happen.
Dennis Robertson, Kawhi Leonard’s uncle, told the Clippers months after Leonard signed that he was looking for about $10 million in off-court income. He told Lawrence Frank and Steve Ballmer. In April 2020, he complained they hadn’t happened yet. Clippers said they’d make it… pic.twitter.com/lGj8PJBfOO
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) September 2, 2026
Investigators found no evidence that Ballmer, Frank, or other Clippers officials instructed Robertson to stop making the requests or reported them to the NBA, as league rules required.
As details from the investigation emerged, several NBA figures publicly reacted to the findings.
“I encourage you all to read the Wachtell report. My thoughts were always even if the Clippers did this, they’d never be [expletive] enough to have email trails everywhere. This is just [expletive] and arrogant. Uncle Dennis needs a movie made about him,” NBA agent Nate Jones wrote.
“The NBA report is hilarious, highly recommended. They got an entire crate full of smoking guns from Aspiration lol. Good lesson: don’t enter into deals with fraudsters, especially where you are doing something you need to cover up but they aren’t,” podcast host Michael Caley wrote.
the NBA report is hilarious, highly recommended
they got an entire crate full of smoking guns from Aspiration lol
good lesson: don’t enter into deals with fraudsters, especially where you are doing something you need to cover up but they aren’t https://t.co/3EEzZlOl8X https://t.co/4v9ZGJIvJb pic.twitter.com/VPjkzYezUt
— Michael Caley (@MC_of_A) September 2, 2026
The investigation also determined that the Clippers made hundreds of payments covering expenses for Leonard, his family, and Robertson. Under NBA rules, Leonard was supposed to reimburse the team for those expenses, but failed to do so. The report stated that Frank approved the payments.
Meanwhile, Vorkunov also pointed out that NBA investigators believed the Clippers attempted to work around the league’s anti-circumvention rules.
“The Clippers, according to NBA investigators, tried to elide NBA rules on circumvention by creating a ‘novel theory’ that it was OK to introduce business partners to players if the player or their representative asked for it. The NBA did not find this persuasive,” Vorkunov tweeted.
The Clippers, according to NBA investigators, tried to elide NBA rules on circumvention by creating a “novel theory” that it was OK to introduce business partners to players if the player or their representative asked for it. The NBA did not find this persuasive. pic.twitter.com/tReMswzF0C
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) September 2, 2026
The Clippers later pushed back against the findings of the investigation and said the organization planned to challenge the league’s disciplinary action while the revelations continued to generate strong reactions around the NBA.
“I cannot believe they were THAT sloppy. But I don’t know why I’m ever surprised by anything anymore,” Jones wrote in another tweet.
I cannot believe they were THAT sloppy. But I don’t know why I’m ever surprised by anything anymore. https://t.co/fNLb9GuACz
— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) September 2, 2026
“The Wachtell Lipton report is pretty damning for the Clippers when read in full. Easy to see why the NBA came down as hard as it did on the Clips based on what Wachtell sent them,” The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie wrote.
The Wachtell Lipton report is pretty damning for the Clippers when read in full. Easy to see why the NBA came down as hard as it did on the Clips based on what Wachtell sent them.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) September 2, 2026
Meanwhile, the Clippers previously agreed earlier in the summer to send Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors, though the trade had been paused while the investigation was ongoing. With the probe now complete, the findings should clear the way for the deal to move forward.
