STAMFORD, Conn. – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said on Monday that the possibility of moving the All-Star Game from the home of the Los Angeles Clippers is not being considered, while the league investigates whether the team circumvented salary cap rules in relation to Kawhi Leonard. The NBA began the investigation last month following a report by journalist Pablo Torre, focusing on a $28 million sponsorship deal between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC, a sustainability services company based in California, which declared bankruptcy this year. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer made a $50 million investment in Aspiration, and the company and the team announced a $300 million partnership in September 2021. The NBA can impose heavy penalties if a team is found to have violated salary cap rules, including a fine of up to $7.5 million, contract annulment, and the loss of future draft picks. However, the league’s mid-season festivities at the Intuit Dome will not be affected.
Silver made these statements at NBC Sports headquarters, where he discussed the network’s return to broadcasting the league this season. The All-Star Game, with a new format that will pit a U.S. team against an international team, will be televised by NBC on February 15. In January 2024, the NBA announced it would bring the 2026 All-Star weekend to the Intuit Dome, even before its opening. The arena, which opened for the 2024-25 season, will also host basketball at the 2028 Olympic Games.Moving the All-Star Game is not being considered, and the planning of the All-Star Game and related activities operate completely independently of the ongoing investigation.
Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner
