An NBA team based out of Los Angeles received a fine from the league for violating its anti-tampering policy, and you’ll never believe who it was. According to a release sent out on Friday, the Clippers received a $50,000 fine following comments Doc Rivers made about Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard.
The league announced the news in a release, saying that Rivers violated the rule during an appearance on ESPN earlier this week.
“The NBA announced today that it has fined the LA Clippers $50,000 for violating the league’s anti-tampering rule,” the release said. “The fine is in response to comments regarding the Toronto Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard made by Head Coach Glenn ‘Doc’ Rivers in a recent television appearance.”
While Rivers didn’t say anything specifically about the Clippers making a play for the upcoming free agent this summer, he was still effusive in his praise of Leonard’s performance this postseason.
"Kawhi is the most like Jordan we've seen."
Doc Rivers has some high praise for Kawhi Leonard. pic.twitter.com/i1R2gR1VrT
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 29, 2019
“[Leonard] is the most like Jordan that we’ve seen,” Rivers said. “There’s a lot of great players. LeBron is phenomenal, KD is phenomenal. Not that [Leonard] is Jordan or anything like that, but he’s the most like him. Big hands, post game, can finish. Great leaper, great defender, in-between game.”
The Clippers, of course have been linked to Leonard, a California native, for some time, with a recent report saying the team plans on going all-out in its attempt to pitch him on joining them when he hits the open market this summer.