The NBA announced on Wednesday that the Los Angeles Clippers evaded the salary cap limit through concealed payments to star player Kawhi Leonard. ^[1] The NBA announced on Wednesday that the LA Clippers were sanctioned for violating rules that prohibit circumventing the salary cap during the contract signing of star player Kawhi Leonard. ^[2] Owner Steve Ballmer will be suspended from all league and team activities for one year for approving a business deal that helped Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities. ^[3] The league found that the NBA star and the team violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement and engaged in a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations. ^[4] The NBA announced on Wednesday that it would impose sweeping punishments on the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard following an investigation into allegations of third-party off-court income opportunities. ^[5] The NBA imposed a $30 million fine on the Clippers organization, forfeiture of five first-round picks from 2029 to 2033, and a $700,000 fine on Leonard himself. ^[6] The NBA imposed a $30 million fine on the LA Clippers for violating salary cap circumvention rules. ^[7] The NBA released findings from a nearly yearlong investigation into the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard on September 2, 2026, determining that the organization violated salary cap circumvention rules. ^[8] The NBA announced on September 4, 2026, that the LA Clippers circumvented the salary cap in their deals involving Kawhi Leonard following an independent investigation. ^[9] The NBA stripped the LA Clippers of five first-round draft picks as part of the penalties for the Kawhi Leonard investigation. ^[10] The NBA ruled on September 3, 2026, that the LA Clippers violated the collective bargaining agreement by circumventing salary cap limits for Kawhi Leonard. ^[11] Kawhi Leonard was fined $700,000 for violating salary cap evasion rules through the conduct of his agent Dennis Robertson. ^[12]