Clippers intend to challenge NBA’s Kawhi Leonard investigation

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Clippers intend to challenge NBA’s Kawhi Leonard investigation

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Sep 2, 2026 5:44 PM ET

The Los Angeles Clippers do not appear willing to accept the punishment they have received from the NBA over allegedly circumventing salary cap rules with regard to Kawhi Leonard.

In a statement, the Clippers said they “vehemently reject” the findings of the league’s investigation, which indicated that the organization knowingly set up fraudulent sponsorship deals for Leonard to pay him extra money. The organization even suggested the NBA gave them different information privately, and that they “intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us.”

The Clippers respond, promising the challenge the NBA’s findings. pic.twitter.com/Iri12ADM1d
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) September 2, 2026

It is not clear what, specifically, the Clippers intend to do to contest the NBA’s findings. Reports emerged in August suggesting that no evidence was found linking owner Steve Ballmer to the scandal, and that may have been the impression the team was under.

The Clippers received some of the harshest possible penalties from the NBA, which indicated that the Clippers knowingly circumvented salary cap rules with Leonard. The Clippers have consistently denied wrongdoing and claimed they, too, were defrauded by the companies involved in the scandal.

If the penalties stand, the Clippers will be docked five first-round picks between 2029 and 2033. Ballmer has also been suspended for a year and fined $30 million.

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