The Los Angeles Clippers found themselves tangled in controversy this week after reports claimed Kawhi Leonard’s contract might have breached salary cap rules. It centered on a $28 million endorsement deal with a company Steve Ballmer had invested in, raising questions about fairness. A follow-up later on even suggested the total compensation could have stretched to $48 million. Fans wondered if this could spark another punishment like the infamous 1999-2000 Joe Smith case. The storm seemed unavoidable, but Ballmer’s unexpected move changed the narrative.

On Thursday, he sat down with Ramona Shelburne for an in-studio interview. During the conversation, Ballmer showed frustration at the accusations, stressing that he, too, had been misled. “Remember, they defrauded me. They defrauded man

See Full Page