The Los Angeles Clippers are no strangers to the NBA spotlight, but the glare has rarely been as intense as it is now. Allegations surfaced earlier this week that Clippers star Kawhi Leonard received a massive $28 million “no-show job” endorsement deal from environmental start-up Aspiration, a company funded with $50 million from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. The accusation? That the deal was designed to circumvent the NBA’s strict salary cap rules—a charge that, if proven, could have seismic consequences for both Leonard and the franchise.
The drama began when podcaster Pablo Torre revealed documents suggesting Leonard’s lucrative endorsement was far from a typical sponsorship. According to Torre and his investigative team, the deal was “the single largest sponsorship” Aspiration ever made and required no public endorsement or work from Leonard. “He didn’t have to do anything,” the report stated, fueling suspicions among league executives and fans alike. The timing of the deal was also notable: it became effective in April 2022 and, crucially, was contingent on Leonard staying with the Clippers.
As the NBA’s 2025-26 season approaches, Clippers fans are on edge. The team’s hopes rest heavily on Leonard, a two-time NBA champion and one of the league’s most coveted free agents when he joined Los Angeles in 2019. If the league finds the Clippers guilty of salary cap circumvention, the penalties could be devastating—ranging from hefty fines and draft pick forfeiture to the voiding of Leonard’s contract. “If they can prove that Kawhi was incentivized to not only stay, but to sign team-friendly deals that gave them more flexibility,” reported NBA insider Sam Amick, “voiding his contract is on the table.”
The Clippers, for their part, have denied any wrongdoing in no uncertain terms. In a statement released on September 4, 2025, and shared by NBA insider Shams Charania, the organization declared, “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 team ended its relationship with Aspiration years ago, during the 2022-23 season, when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations.”
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has been vocal in his defense, insisting the team followed league rules. Ballmer told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, “We were done with Kawhi’s contract negotiations. Then, (Aspiration) did request to be introduced to Kawhi, and under the rules, we can introduce our sponsors to our athletes. We just can’t be involved.” He went further, expressing frustration at the situation: “Any speculation would be crazy. These were guys who committed fraud. Look, they conned me! They conned me!”
The NBA isn’t taking the matter lightly. The league has hired law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz—the same firm that previously investigated former Clippers owner Donald Sterling and ex-Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver—to lead the probe. Their reputation for thoroughness signals the seriousness of the league’s intent. According to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, the possible punishments for a first-time violation of salary cap rules are severe: fines up to $7.5 million, direct forfeiture of draft picks, the voiding of the player’s contract, and a fine up to $350,000 for the player. Team personnel found to have willfully participated could face suspension for up to a year, and any transaction violating league rules could be voided. The league could also force the forfeiture of funds received in any such deal—unless the player can prove he was unaware of the violation.
It’s a high-stakes waiting game as the investigation unfolds. The NBA has not provided a clear timetable for resolution, and the uncertainty is weighing heavily on the Clippers’ preparation for the new season. “The league understands that this hold-up could be unfair to the LA Clippers, if they did nothing wrong, as their preparation has been contingent on the worry that Kawhi Leonard could begin the season at home,” noted NBA insider Zach Lowe. Other team owners, according to Lowe, are pushing for a “harsh” punishment if the Clippers are found guilty. Their voices carry significant weight, especially with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ultimately responsible for enforcing league discipline.
Meanwhile, the details of the Aspiration deal continue to raise eyebrows. Aspiration filed for bankruptcy in March 2025, and court documents list Leonard’s company, KL2 Aspire LLC, as a creditor for $7 million. Despite the large sums involved, Leonard never publicly endorsed Aspiration, and the arrangement remained largely out of the public eye until Torre’s investigation brought it to light. “NBA executives were suspicious of how Steve Ballmer’s Clippers landed the most valuable free agent on the market, Kawhi Leonard,” Torre remarked, referencing the 2019 free agency coup that brought Leonard to Los Angeles.
The Clippers’ relationship with Aspiration, the team insists, ended during the 2022-23 season after the company defaulted on its obligations. This timeline is crucial, as it could help the team argue that any alleged wrongdoing was not ongoing. Still, the fact that Leonard’s endorsement deal was effective from April 2022 and tied to his remaining with the team is a central focus of the investigation.
As the law firm digs deeper, the NBA community is abuzz with speculation. If the league finds sufficient evidence of cap circumvention, the fallout could be historic—not just for the Clippers, but for the NBA’s approach to player contracts and team sponsorships moving forward. Other teams are watching closely, knowing that the outcome could set a new precedent for what is—and isn’t—allowed when it comes to player compensation and team partnerships.
For now, the Clippers and their fans can do little but wait. The season’s outlook hangs in the balance, with the possibility that one of the league’s superstars could be sidelined, and an entire franchise’s future could be thrown into chaos. As the investigation continues, all eyes remain fixed on Los Angeles. The next chapter in this unfolding saga promises to be anything but dull.
