Stephen A. Smith calls for harsh NBA punishment including ‘year-long ban’ for Kawhi Leonard

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Pablo Torre reported on yet another potential salary cap circumvention move by Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. Stephen A. Smith thinks that if it’s real, the NBA should be ruthless.

Kawhi Leonard was supposed to be back with the Toronto Raptors by now. The only thing that’s stopped him is the ongoing NBA investigation into his time with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Pablo Torre reported in 2025 that Leonard and the franchise had tried to circumvent the league’s salary cap. The claim is that they did so by getting him bogus sponsorship money through Aspiration.

Torre added to that this week, with a report suggesting that this same thing had also happened with another team sponsor, Daktronics. It’s no surprise that the NBA world is starting to lose its patience.

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Stephen A. Smith lists four punishments for Kawhi, Clippers if NBA finds them guilty​

While the entire scandal has stayed in the headlines, a resolution to the league’s investigation is not expected until 2027. But if it does result in a guilty verdict, Stephen A. Smith has suggested what needs to happen.

Smith isn’t exactly known for having moderate opinions, and he’s come out all guns blazing on this topic. The ESPN talking head is of the opinion that any punishments should be severe.


“Bottom line is this,” Stephen A. said. “If this is true, if you’re the NBA, you vaporise the contract of Kawhi Leonard. And in the same breath, not only do you do that, you suspend him.

“You suspend him and don’t allow him to play for at least a year. You confiscate draft picks from the Clippers, but you also suspend Steve Ballmer from attending the games.”

Smith went on to claim that the league will be forced to take measures like this because of how harsh other punishments have been in recent times.

While it is unlikely that the NBPA will let a year-long ban on Kawhi playing ever happen, it will be hard to defend the star should the allegations be proven true. The situation is continuing to grow murkier.

Read more:

• One technicality could save Kawhi Leonard if NBA finds Clippers star guilty of salary cap circumvention
• Pablo Torre’s new ‘multimillion-dollar’ secret sponsorship claim might mean trouble for Kawhi Leonard, Clippers
• Investigation finds Kawhi Leonard has been ‘long-hidden’ investor in controversial soccer team

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