The Los Angeles Clippers find themselves under a microscope, and once again, it has nothing to do with what’s happening on the basketball court. A bombshell report claims the team funneled $28 million to Kawhi Leonard through what’s being called a “no-show” endorsement deal with a bankrupt company tied to team owner Steve Ballmer. If true, this isn’t just a messy headline—it could be a full-blown NBA salary cap controversy.
The Report That Shook the Clippers
This story broke wide open thanks to podcaster and former ESPN contributor Pablo Torre. According to his findings, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer pumped $50 million into a sustainability company called Aspiration. The company, once billed as an environmentally friendly financial business, has since gone bankrupt and faced accusations of fraud.
To make matters worse, Aspiration’s co-founder Joseph Sanberg recently agreed to plead guilty to defrauding multiple investors. Buried in the fallout? A $28 million deal that directly links Kawhi Leonard to the company—without any real evidence he ever did a thing to earn it.
The Alleged Deal With Leonard
Here’s where it gets sticky. Torre says he obtained a document signed by Leonard himself. That contract supposedly guaranteed Leonard $28 million from Aspiration between 2022 and 2025—on one condition: he remained a member of the Clippers.
Now, endorsement deals are nothing new in the NBA. But in this case, there’s no record of Leonard promoting, mentioning, or even acknowledging Aspiration publicly. No commercials. No campaigns. No social media posts. Nothing.
A former Aspiration employee went on Torre’s podcast, Pablo Torre Finds Out, and didn’t mince words: “It was to circumvent the salary cap.”
That’s a bold claim—and one that could spell major trouble.
The NBA Steps In
The league didn’t waste any time reacting. On Wednesday, the NBA released a statement confirming it’s launching an investigation into the report.
“We are aware of this morning’s media report regarding the LA Clippers and are commencing an investigation,” the league told ESPN.
NBA investigations aren’t quick, but they’re thorough. If the evidence shows the Clippers crossed a line, the fallout could change the team’s future.
The Clippers Deny Everything
Of course, the Clippers aren’t sitting back quietly. In their own statement, the team flat-out denied any wrongdoing.
“Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration. Any contrary assertion is provably false,” the franchise said.
Strong words, but the paper trail from Aspiration’s bankruptcy filing doesn’t exactly help their case. According to those records, Aspiration still owes money to KL2 Aspire LLC—a company tied directly to Leonard. The unpaid balance? Roughly $7 million.
Leonard’s Clippers Journey
Kawhi Leonard isn’t new to the Clippers’ payroll. He signed with the team in 2019, and earlier this year, in 2024, he agreed to a three-year extension worth about $150 million. His resume is glittering—two-time Finals MVP, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and six All-Star appearances.
But the last few years haven’t been easy. Leonard sat out the entire 2021-22 season after knee surgery, and lingering knee issues have limited his availability ever since. Last season, he managed just 37 games, averaging 21.5 points and 5.9 rebounds.
On paper, he’s still one of the league’s most dominant two-way players. In reality, injuries have made his impact far less consistent.
The Bigger Picture: Salary Cap Rules
This isn’t the first time an NBA team has been accused of trying to outsmart the salary cap. The most infamous case happened back in 2000, when the Minnesota Timberwolves got slapped with a $3.5 million fine and lost multiple first-round draft picks over an under-the-table deal with Joe Smith.
The punishment was so severe it became a cautionary tale for every front office in the league.
But under today’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the penalties are a little different. If the Clippers are found guilty, they could face:
- A fine of up to $4.5 million for a first offense
- Losing a first-round draft pick
- The voiding of any contracts or transactions tied to the violation
Not quite the nuclear fallout the Timberwolves suffered, but still enough to shake a franchise to its core.
What’s at Stake for the Clippers
The Clippers are no strangers to drama. From Donald Sterling’s disgraceful exit to years of “what if” playoff runs, the team has spent decades fighting both on and off the court for legitimacy. This scandal threatens to undo much of the progress Ballmer has made in cleaning up the franchise’s image.
It also raises a bigger question: how far are teams willing to go to keep their stars happy—and on their roster?
If Leonard’s $28 million no-show deal really was tied to his Clippers tenure, that’s more than a simple oversight. That’s bending the rules in plain sight.
Leonard’s Legacy at Risk?
For Leonard, this isn’t the kind of spotlight any player wants. His career has been defined by winning championships and dominating when healthy. But now, the conversation is shifting to off-court controversies he didn’t ask for—but may not be able to avoid.
Even if Leonard himself didn’t orchestrate this deal, his name and signature are right there in the paperwork. And in the world of professional sports, optics matter almost as much as performance.
The Road Ahead
So where does this go from here? The NBA investigation will take time, and the league will weigh all available evidence before making any decisions. For now, Leonard keeps playing, Ballmer keeps building, and the Clippers keep denying.
But the shadows of a $28 million “endorsement” deal aren’t going away anytime soon.
Whether this ends with fines, lost draft picks, or just another controversy brushed under the rug, one thing is clear: the Clippers’ pursuit of a championship now comes with one more massive distraction.
And for a franchise that’s already carrying the weight of high expectations and injury-prone stars, that’s the last thing they needed.