Los Angeles – The National Basketball Association announced on Monday that former Microsoft executive and Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has been suspended for the remainder of the 2026‑27 season, following a league investigation that uncovered a sophisticated salary‑cap circumvention scheme. The NBA also levied a $30 million fine against the Clippers organization and imposed a $700,000 penalty on star forward Kawhi Leonard for knowingly participating in the illicit contracts. According to the NBA’s findings, the Clippers used a series of “amnesty” contracts and off‑the‑books incentives to hide $12 million in player compensation, thereby gaining an unfair competitive advantage. Ballmer was barred from all team operations, including attendance at league meetings and voting on collective‑bargaining matters. The Clippers have appealed the sanctions, and the NBA indicated that a hearing will be scheduled within 60 days.
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