Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has released a statement reneging on his word to fight the sanctions imposed upon him by the league for the salary cap circumvention related to Kawhi Leonard.
He said he would fight back after the punishments, which included the loss of five future first-round draft picks, a fine of $30M and a yearlong suspension of Ballmer for violating salary cap circumvention rules in a case involving Kawhi Leonard.
This was the statement he wrote on X:
“For my Los Angeles Clippers followers This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets. I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.
“We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward. While there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report, this is not where I want to focus. Team owners should support, not distract.
“The challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve. We will continue to build our team and invest in our community. The confidence of our fans is our priority. With our talented roster, outstanding staff and clear vision, I am certain that we will compete at the highest level and be an organization our fans can be proud of.”
When the sactions were first handed down, the said, “We vehemently reject the NBA’s findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence,” while adding, “We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.”
Meanwhile, the Kawhi trade has officially gone through and he is a Raptor again, the team announced on social media today.
As for the Clippers, it could very likely be a pretty rough run these next few years, so buckle up LAC fans.
READ MORE: US Justice Department Opens Inquiry Into Kawhi Leonard-Clippers Saga