Story perspectives

Clippers Face 5 Pick Loss, $30M Fine, Ballmer Suspended

9/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the Clippers will lose five first-round picks and pay a $30 million fine.
Owner Steve Ballmer was suspended for one year from all league and team activities.
President of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended without pay for one year.
Star Kawhi Leonard was fined $700,000, clearing his trade back to the Toronto Raptors.
Leonard’s uncle Dennis Robertson received a five-year ban from NBA business dealings.

History

Historical Context

In 2007, the NBA expelled referee Tim Donaghy after a gambling investigation, imposing a $1 million fine and a lifetime ban. Commissioner David Stern also suspended Donaghy’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, for six months and required the New York Knicks to forfeit $2 million in revenue. Similarly, today the NBA penalizes the Los Angeles Clippers, with Commissioner Adam Silver levying a $30 million fine, five first-round picks, and suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer, business chief Gillian Zucker, and player Kawhi Leonard. These enforcement actions reaffirm the league’s zero-tolerance policy, signaling that future violations will trigger comparable financial and personnel repercussions across all franchises.

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Story summary

NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the Clippers will lose five first-round picks and pay a $30 million fine.
Owner Steve Ballmer was suspended for one year from all league and team activities.
President of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended without pay for one year.
Star Kawhi Leonard was fined $700,000, clearing his trade back to the Toronto Raptors.
Leonard’s uncle Dennis Robertson received a five-year ban from NBA business dealings.

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