NBA: Steve Ballmer accepts record $30m fine over Clippers salary cap violations

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Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has accepted the NBA’s punishment against the team for salary cap violations and apologised for the actions that led to the sanctions.

In a post on the Clippers’ X account, the former Microsoft CEO said he had paid the record $30 million fine and accepted responsibility for the team’s role in “circumventing salary cap rules.”

The NBA also voided five first-round draft picks and suspended Ballmer and two Clippers executives for one year. Star forward Kawhi Leonard was separately fined $700,000. Ballmer said he accepts the punishment and regrets the actions that resulted in the NBA’s sanctions.

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“I want to apologize to our fans, employees and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and the distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.”

Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

“We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying to the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the ($30 million) fine ​and are moving forward. We are committed to put ⁠this chapter behind us” he said.

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Steve Ballmer, owner of the LA Clippers (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)