Adam Silver said the NBA examined past precedent before stripping the Los Angeles Clippers of five first-round draft picks for violating salary cap rules, calling the decision painful given its effect on the franchise’s supporters.

Silver made the comments Tuesday following a two-day board of governors meeting. Silver cited the Minnesota Timberwolves’ prior forfeiture of five picks for cap circumvention as the guiding example for the Clippers’ punishment.

“I think that’s, in some ways, the most difficult part of adjudicating these disputes,” said Silver. “While there have to be competitive consequences, in our view, if these rules are violated we still want to be a 30-team league and we recognize that in some ways we’re unfortunately punishing the fans of that team as well.”

The remarks marked Silver’s first public statements since the league concluded the Clippers had circumvented cap regulations connected to Kawhi Leonard, an allegation the franchise had strongly disputed throughout a year-long league investigation. Earlier this month, the NBA issued severe penalties following that inquiry, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for a full season, levying a $30 million fine and forcing the club to surrender five future first-round selections.

The deal returning Leonard to the Toronto Raptors was finalized on Monday. Ballmer confirmed this week that he intends to comply with the sanctions, abandon a legal pursuit, and noted the fine had already been paid.

Silver added that the Clippers had no representative present at the board meeting, since the organization is still searching for an interim governor.