Silver: NBA All-Star Game staying in Los Angeles amid Clippers probe
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STAMFORD, Conn. — NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Monday the league has “no contemplation” of relocating the 2026 All-Star Game from the LA Clippers’ Intuit Dome while the franchise is under investigation for possible salary-cap circumvention involving star forward Kawhi Leonard.
The NBA launched the probe last month following journalist Pablo Torre’s report on a $28 million endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC, a California sustainability firm that entered bankruptcy this year. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration, and the company announced a $300 million partnership with the team in September 2021.
Should investigators confirm violations, the league could issue fines of up to $7.5 million, void player contracts or strip future draft picks. Silver emphasized, however, that All-Star Weekend plans remain unchanged.
“There’s no contemplation of moving the All-Star Game, and planning for the All-Star Game and the surrounding activities are operating completely independently of the ongoing investigation,” he said during remarks at NBC Sports headquarters, where he discussed the network’s return to NBA broadcasts.
The midseason showcase is set for Feb. 15, 2026, with NBC expected to air a new format featuring U.S. players versus an international squad. Intuit Dome opened for the 2024-25 season and is also scheduled to host basketball events during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The NBA awarded the 2026 All-Star festivities to the Clippers’ arena in January 2024, more than two years before the venue opened.
Source: ESPN
