US EditionKawhi Leonard's Clippers contract under NBA investigation over alleged salary cap circumvention
The NBA probes a $28 million endorsement deal involving Kawhi Leonard and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, with allegations of salary cap circumvention amid Aspiration's bankruptcy and fraud charges.
- The NBA launched an investigation on Wednesday into the Los Angeles Clippers over allegations they circumvented the salary cap with a $28 million endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard linked to an Aspiration investment.
- This scrutiny follows Aspiration's March 2025 bankruptcy and co-founder Joe Sanberg's August guilty plea for defrauding investors of more than $248 million, raising questions about Aspiration's financial dealings.
- Clippers owner Steve Ballmer denied knowledge of the Leonard-Aspiration deal, stated he was duped by Aspiration's founders, and welcomed the NBA's probe while asserting the team did not engage in misconduct.
- Reports indicate Leonard was to receive $28 million from Aspiration over four years, with an additional secret $20 million stock deal, totaling $48 million, despite no evidence Leonard promoted Aspiration publicly.
- If found guilty, Leonard and the Clippers could face penalties including fines, voided contracts, suspension, and loss of future draft picks, while Ballmer called for serious league investigations into similar cases.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Kawhi Leonard Makes First Public Appearance Since $28M Allegations
Kawhi Leonard has kept an unusually low profile since his name became tied to a $28 million endorsement controversy involving a tree-planting company with links to the Los Angeles Clippers’ front office. His silence broke this week, but not on a basketball court. The Los Angeles Clippers star was spotted at the US Open, dressed down in a cap, hoodie, and earphones, watching the tennis quietly from the stands. For a player whose every move now dr…
The News-Gazette
Clippers owner Ballmer welcomes NBA probe, tells ESPN he wasn't involved in Leonard endorsement deal
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said in an interview with ESPN that he welcomes the NBA's investigation into an alleged circumvention of league salary cap rules, denying any involvement in a $28 million endorsement contract…
Los Angeles Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer Makes The Kawhi Leonard Situation So Much Worse
Steve Ballmer LA Clippers Kawhi Leonard The Los Angeles Clippers and superstar Kawhi Leonard find themselves under a microscope after reports that owner Steve Ballmer funded a shell company to pay Leonard off the books and circumvent the NBA salary cap. And Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft and one of the world’s richest men, did little to help his case during an interview with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQsmM1Eh…
Steve Ballmer Went On SportsCenter To Address The Kawhi Leonard Scandal And It Was A Complete Disaster
Adam Pantozzi. Getty Images.With everything that has now come to light in regards to the Kawhi Leonard Scandal, it was only a matter of time before the league and the Clippers did what they could to ...
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