Silver: Clippers will retain All-Star Game despite investigation

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 whether the team violated salary-cap rules related to Kawhi Leonard.

“There’s no contemplation of moving the All-Star Game,” Silver said Monday at NBC Sports headquarters in Stamford, Conn. “Planning for the All-Star Game and the surrounding activities are operating completely independently of the ongoing investigation.”

The league launched an investigation last month after journalist Pablo Torre reported a $28 million “no-show” endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC, a California sustainability company that filed for bankruptcy this year. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had previously invested $50 million in Aspiration, and the team entered into a $300 million partnership with the company in September 2021.

Commissioner Adam Silver said regardless of what goes on with the ongoing league investigation of the #Clippers, there is absolutely no talk or chance of the #NBA All-Star Game or activities being moved from Los Angeles.

— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) October 6, 2025

More on the Los Angeles Clippers

If investigators determine cap rules were skirted, the NBA’s penalties can include fines up to $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.

–Field Level Media

More NBA content from Sactown Sports

“I personally think preseason games are valuable, especially now that we went from four to eight,” Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie said after Monday’s practice.

Beginning his first season as the Kings’ full-time head coach, Christie and new general manager Scott Perry have been clear in their goal of creating an identity this season.

What does it mean to be a member of the Sacramento Kings? Their core on-court principles include picking up full-cout defensively and playing with pace.

They even claimed they want to be “the best conditioned team in the league.”

Christie, who earned four All-Defense honors throughout his playing career, of course, also values his group having a defensive orientation.

Wednesday’s preseason debut against the visiting Toronto Raptors is their first chance to see them in action. After beating up on each other for the past week in training camp, everyone is itching to face a real opponent, preseason or not.

Doug Christie emphasizes importance of upcoming preseason games

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season

Preseason

• Wednesday, October 8th vs. Toronto Raptors – 7 PM PT
• Friday, October 10th @ Portland Trail Blazers – 7 PM PT
• Wednesday, October 15th vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 7 PM PT
• Friday, October 17th @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7 PM PT

Regular Season

• Wednesday, October 22nd – @ Phoenix Suns – 7 PM PT
• Friday, October 24th – vs. Utah Jazz – 7 PM PT
• Sunday, October 26th – vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 6 PM PT
• Tuesday, October 28th – @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 5 PM PT
• Wednesday, October 29th – @ Chicago Bulls – 5 PM PT

Thank you for reading sactownsports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Related

Which free agent guard would be the best fit with Darius Acuff Jr.?Sources: Kings GM Scott Perry in Florida to watch Ben Simmons workoutWill the 26-27 Kings be a Bottom-5 Team in the NBA?ESPN projects Sacramento Kings to finish last in Western ConferenceSacramento Kings to honor Rick Adelman with jersey band during 2026-27 seasonKeegan Murray still has a key role to play in Kings’ rebuild