Clippers Owner Ballmer Apologizes Over NBA Sanctions
Steve Ballmer owns the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team. He apologized over sanctions against him and the team.
The NBA banned Ballmer for one year. It fined the Clippers $30 million.
The league also made the team forfeit five first-round draft picks. Ballmer said the Clippers have paid the fines.
He said the team is following the penalties. He said the team is moving forward.
Ballmer still disagrees with the investigation's findings. But he said he will follow the NBA ban.
The apology came after the Clippers earlier rejected the NBA's findings. The penalties followed a nearly yearlong investigation.
That investigation looked into salary-cap rule breaking. It involved player Kawhi Leonard and an endorsement deal.
Klear Note — NBA salary-cap rules control how much teams can spend on player salaries.
Key Terms 4
- NBA National Basketball Association, the top pro basketball league in the United States.
- salary cap A limit on how much money a team can spend on players.
- Kawhi Leonard A professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers.
- draft picks Chances for a team to choose new young players to sign.