Ballmer accepts NBA penalties, expresses remorse

LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer accepted the NBA's penalties against the franchise for salary cap circumvention, as he announced in a statement on September 13, 2026. In his statement, Ballmer expressed that it has been a difficult time for everyone associated with the Clippers and conveyed his sincere regrets. He stated, "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."

Ballmer confirmed the team's commitment to move past this issue by affirming compliance with the league's imposed penalties, including the payment of a $30 million fine and the forfeiture of five first-round draft picks.

Earlier in the month, the NBA had announced severe penalties against the Clippers related to violations of salary cap rules, particularly in a case involving star player Kawhi Leonard. These penalties followed a nearly yearlong investigation that uncovered a pattern of misconduct and significant rules violations by the organization, which had a history of noncompliance.

Initially, both Ballmer and the Clippers organization had challenged the findings aggressively, with Ballmer's lawyer describing the investigation as a "witch hunt" and labeling the penalties a