The NBA has found no evidence showing that LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard, according to people with knowledge of recent discussions between the league and the team.
The matter centered on whether payments connected to team sponsors were used as a way to compensate Leonard outside standard league rules. Based on the information reviewed in recent days, the league has not found proof supporting that claim.
Leonard, a central figure for the Clippers since joining the franchise, remains one of the NBA's most high-profile players. Ballmer has owned the Clippers since 2014 and has overseen one of the league's most ambitious franchise-building efforts in Los Angeles.
League Review Finds No Supporting Evidence
The finding does not indicate that the NBA has identified improper payments involving Ballmer, the Clippers or Leonard through sponsor-related channels. The league's review, as described by people familiar with the discussions, has not produced evidence that Ballmer used outside companies tied to the team to route money to the star forward.
The Clippers have built their roster around Leonard as a franchise cornerstone, making any question involving his compensation significant within the league's competitive and financial framework. For now, the NBA has not found evidence to substantiate the allegation involving sponsor payments.