Kawhi Leonard breaks silence after NBA ruling in Clippers investigation

Leonard responds to the ruling

Kawhi Leonard issued a short statement through his new agent, saying he’s focused on putting the matter behind him. He acknowledged mistakes by people close to him, expressed regret for the distraction it caused his family and fans, and made clear he signed his deal in good faith without knowledge of any effort to skirt the salary cap. Leonard said he’s concentrating on what he can control as he moves forward.

What the investigation found and what comes next

The league’s probe resulted in a $700,000 fine for Leonard but stopped short of a suspension or voiding his contract. Investigators concluded that Leonard’s former business manager pressured the Clippers to help secure off-court income and failed to reimburse the team for certain personal expenses; that manager has been banned from doing business with NBA teams for five years.

Leonard’s trade back to Toronto had been put on hold while the investigation played out. With the NBA’s ruling removing the main obstacle, the deal is expected to move forward, and Leonard has said he’s ready to close this chapter and start fresh with a clean slate.