Los Angeles Clippers will retain All-Star Game despite investigation: Adam Silver
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Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard stands for a photo during the team's media day at Intuit Dome.
PHOTO: EPA
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LOS ANGELES – National Basketball Association (NBA) commissioner Adam Silver said the league has no plans to move All-Star Weekend away from the Los Angeles Clippers’ new arena, while it investigates if they violated salary-cap rules related to Kawhi Leonard.
“There’s no contemplation of moving the All-Star Game,” Silver said on Oct 6 at NBC Sports headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. “Planning for the All-Star Game and the surrounding activities are operating completely independently of the ongoing investigation.”
The league launched an investigation in September after journalist Pablo Torre reported a US$28 million (S$36.2 million) “no-show” endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration, a California sustainability company that filed for bankruptcy in 2025.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had previously invested US$50 million in Aspiration, and the team entered into a US$300 million partnership with the company in September 2021.
If investigators determine cap rules were skirted, the NBA’s penalties can include fines up to US$7.5 million, voiding contracts and forfeiting future draft picks.
Silver’s comments came as NBC discussed its return as an NBA broadcaster this season. NBC is slated to televise the All-Star Game from the Intuit Dome on Feb 15.
The league awarded the 2026 All-Star Weekend to the Clippers in January 2024, months before their new arena opened for the 2024-25 season. The Inglewood venue is also scheduled to stage basketball at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Meanwhile, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is week-to-week with a sprained ankle suffered in practice on Oct 5, the team confirmed on Oct 6.
The two-time All-Star guard missed their pre-season opener against the Detroit Pistons on Oct 6. The Grizzlies begin the regular season at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct 22.
Morant averaged 23.2 points, 7.3 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 50 games (all starts) last season.
Drafted No. 2 overall in 2019, he has career averages of 22.6 points, 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 307 games (305 starts). He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2019-20, the Most Improved Player in 2021-22 and made the All-Star teams in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Memphis are already dealing with injuries to forwards Brandon Clarke (knee), Jaren Jackson Jr (toe) and centre Zach Edey (ankle).
NBA champions the Oklahoma City Thunder, meanwhile, said guard Nikola Topic underwent a testicular procedure on Oct 6 and will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks. That takes Topic out of the running for the regular-season opener on Oct 21 against the Houston Rockets. REUTERS
