US EditionKawhi Leonard denies wrongdoing as NBA investigates his endorsement deal
- On Monday, September 29, 2025, Kawhi Leonard publicly responded to NBA investigations concerning a $28 million endorsement arrangement involving Aspiration and addressed questions about the Clippers' adherence to salary cap regulations.
- These allegations arose after reports surfaced in early September that the Clippers used Aspiration, a now-bankrupt California company, to circumvent NBA salary cap rules through Leonard's endorsement contract.
- Leonard denied wrongdoing, stating he understood the contract, performed required services, and was not fully paid, while team president Lawrence Frank expressed confidence the investigation will prove the allegations false.
- Aspiration filed for bankruptcy after defrauding investors of $248 million, and the NBA is investigating financial ties including Clippers owner Steve Ballmer's $50 million investment, with potential penalties up to $7.5 million and draft pick forfeitures.
- The NBA's probe may take time, but Leonard and the Clippers stress focus on the upcoming season and expect no distractions or punishments to affect team operations going forward.
49 Articles
49 Articles
Press-Telegram
LA Daily NewsSwanson: Finding out some NBA fans aren’t big on real journalism
Maybe you’ve heard? Pablo Torre has been investigating allegations of the Clippers’ alleged salary cap circumvention and reporting his findings on his podcast, “Pablo Torre Finds Out.” Just kidding. Of course you’ve heard! The Clippers are the story in the NBA to start the 2025-26 season. Not because they’re among the frontrunners, not because they’ve got some ballyhooed young talent. Not because they’re debuting a new arena – that was last yea…
Hanford Sentinel
Los Angeles Times'Conspiracy theories': Clippers' Kawhi Leonard denies that his endorsement deal was cheating
LOS ANGELES — Kawhi Leonard mumbled his way through a few answers to questions Monday about his endorsement deal with Aspiration Partners that has triggered an NBA investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the league salary cap.
Kawhi Leonard Breaks His Silence, Sort Of
Of the five players made available to reporters at the Clippers' media day Monday, Kawhi Leonard was the last one up. He slipped into a sweatsuit, sat down at the dais, and said, "I'm ready," as Law Murray of the The Athletic detailed. This was the first time that Leonard faced questions from the press since the revelation of an apparent scheme to funnel him millions of dollars outside his NBA salary, in violation of the league's collective barg…
Kawhi Leonard claims reports of Clippers’ salary cap controversy not ‘accurate’
Kawhi Leonard said the allegation that he signed up for a no-show job with a now-bankrupt company to help the Los Angeles Clippers circumvent the salary cap is nothing but a conspiracy theory. At the team’s preseason media day Monday (Tuesday, September 30, Manila time), Leonard spoke publicly for the first time since reporting by the podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” linked an endorsement deal Leonard had with sustainability services company Aspi…
Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard denies wrongdoing as NBA investigates his endorsement deal
Kawhi Leonard said the allegation that he signed up for a no-show job with a now-bankrupt company to help the Los Angeles Clippers circumvent the salary cap is nothing but a conspiracy theory.
Kawhi Leonard Finally Addressed The Clippers/Aspiration Scandal And Naturally He Made Things A Million Times Worse
Juan Ocampo. Getty Images.As expected, there was no way around the fact that during their Media Day session today, the Clippers were going to have to answer some questions about Pablo Torre's reporti...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 48% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
