Golden State Warriors player Draymond Green expressed his disagreement with the NBA’s salary cap following the league’s handling of a salary cap circumvention issue involving Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. Green questioned why players are restricted from earning additional income through team or league sponsorships.
Speaking on *The Draymond Green Show*, Green stated he was “happy” Leonard avoided suspension after the league assessed a $700,000 penalty to the Clippers related to an improper endorsement deal. He noted Leonard claimed he was unaware of the details, stating, “$700,000 is essentially in restitution for what happened in the deal, and Kawhi came out and said, 'I didn't know anything about this,' and I'm taking his word for it.” Green added that Daktronics, the company involved in the deal, is a “very reputable company.”
Green then directly challenged the purpose of the salary cap, asking, “Why is there a salary cap? Why are guys being—why are guys being prevented from making money from team sponsors or league sponsors or whoever else?” He contrasted the league’s stated focus on players with the potential for players to earn an additional “$20 to $30 extra million” through sponsorships, suggesting the cap restricts this possibility.
The source explains that the salary cap isn’t intended to limit player earnings overall, but rather to prevent teams from using outside funding to circumvent the system. It highlights the potential for wealthy owners, such as Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, whose net worth exceeds $150 billion, to essentially “purchase” superior rosters if team-connected endorsement deals could freely supplement player contracts. This, the source argues, would disadvantage teams with fewer financial resources.
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