The NBA has opened an investigation right into a reported endorsement deal involving Kawhi Leonard and a bankrupt startup that might have doubled as a method for the Los Angeles Clippers to sneak across the wage cap.
“We’re conscious of this morning’s media report concerning the LA Clippers and are commencing an investigation,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass informed NBC Sports activities.
Clippers assertion: pic.twitter.com/2nZR75JCTo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 4, 2025
The deal in query centered round Aspiration, a so-called “inexperienced financial institution” as soon as promoted by celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr. and Drake.
Leonard signed a $28 million endorsement contract with Aspiration in 2021, in accordance with reporting from Pablo Torre Finds Out.
Regardless of the profitable deal, PTFO claims Leonard “by no means made an look or a lot as a social media publish” for the corporate.
In that very same yr, Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer invested $50 million into Aspiration.
Inside paperwork and feedback from former Aspiration staff alleged the setup functioned as “a workaround for the NBA’s wage cap.”
One former finance worker recalled, “We went by way of a litany of actually, actually top-tier identify contracts. After which, ‘Oh, by the best way, we even have a advertising and marketing take care of Kawhi Leonard’ — and that if I had any questions on it, primarily don’t, as a result of it was to bypass the wage cap.”
The Clippers strongly deny the accusations.
“Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the wage cap or engaged in any misconduct associated to Aspiration. Any opposite assertion is provably false. The workforce ended its relationship with Aspiration years in the past, through the 2022–23 season, when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations. Neither the Clippers nor Mr. Ballmer was conscious of any improper exercise by Aspiration or its co-founder till after the federal government instituted its investigation. The workforce and Mr. Ballmer stand prepared to help legislation enforcement in any method they’ll.”
The controversy arrives as Aspiration’s total enterprise collapses. Co-founder Joe Sanberg pleaded responsible simply weeks in the past to defrauding buyers of greater than 248 million {dollars}. Chapter proceedings stay ongoing, with Leonard’s LLC, the Clippers, and Ballmer’s Discussion board Leisure listed among the many firm’s largest collectors.
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