A new report suggests that Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer may have overplayed his hand in trying to clear his name as part of an investigation into fake sponsorship deals.
Pablo Torre, who initially broke the story, appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show” Thursday and revealed that Ballmer had the opportunity to save face in light of the investigation. Ballmer was given the chance to settle with the NBA and admit wrongdoing, but the Clippers owner instead sought to clear his name completely. Previous reports had suggested that a settlement was seen as the most likely resolution of the investigation.
“The NBA tried to settle with Steve Ballmer. They said ‘Hey, we have a narrow scope, we have undeniable evidence. We want to just make sure that you have the opportunity to take your punishment, admit wrongdoing, and let us all move on,'” Torre said. “Steve Ballmer, according to everything that we’ve seen play out in public, decided to fight.”
“What can Steve Ballmer do? He can literally sue the NBA.” – @PabloTorre tells DP whats next for the Clippers pic.twitter.com/mu8dEOJTRF
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) September 3, 2026
Torre also noted that the NBA successfully settled with Leonard and the NBPA. The players’ union is the only entity that can initiate arbitration, which means the legal system is the only place Ballmer can go for potential recourse. That would leave Ballmer open to discovery and the potential reveal of more documents.
Roughly two weeks ago, reports emerged suggesting that Ballmer had not funneled money to Leonard through fake sponsorships. The NBA’s investigation ultimately found otherwise, so perhaps someone close to the Clippers was trying to set a narrative. The Clippers have claimed that the NBA’s public findings did not match what they were told privately, and intend to fight their punishment.
Ballmer was suspended for one year and fined $30 million for his role in the scandal. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
