Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer looks on as players warm up prior to an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
NBA disputes ESPN article on investigation of Clippers owner Steve Ballmer
Aug 17, 2026 | 11:59 AM
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The NBA is disputing claims made in an ESPN article about the league’s investigation of Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
ESPN published a story Monday morning citing three sources that said the NBA found no evidence showing that Ballmer funnelled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard in order to circumvent the salary cap.
The article alleged that the NBA is instead focused on if the team’s introduction of Leonard to team sponsors constitutes a violation of the league’s rules prohibiting salary cap circumvention.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass issued a statement Monday afternoon that send the ESPN article “contains numerous and significant inaccuracies.”
