Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has vehemently denied any knowledge of a controversial $28 million "no-show" endorsement deal between Kawhi Leonard and the now-bankrupt Aspiration bank. Ballmer's statement follows a recent report alleging the Clippers attempted to circumvent the NBA's salary cap regulations. In an interview with ESPN, Ballmer insisted he was unaware of the contract's specifics, claiming he was merely introduced to the deal by Aspiration in November 2021, three months after Leonard signed a four-year, $173 million extension with the team. He emphasized that the Clippers' $300 million partnership with Aspiration, announced in September 2021, was a separate matter. Ballmer stated that Aspiration handled the negotiations independently, adding, "The introduction got made, and then they were off to the races on their own. We weren’t involved." He expressed complete ignorance of the deal's financial terms and openly admitted feeling deceived by Aspiration, whose co-founder pleaded guilty to defrauding investors. "These were guys who committed fraud. They conned me," Ballmer declared. The NBA has launched an investigation into the matter, a move Ballmer supports, stating, "I’d want the league to investigate, take it seriously." Meanwhile, two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, known for his impressive career with the Spurs, Raptors, and Clippers, continues to grapple with persistent knee injuries which have significantly hampered his recent seasons. Despite these setbacks, his storied career speaks for itself, marked by two Defensive Player of the Year awards and a consistent record of excellence across 13 seasons.
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Originally published at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/13/nba-clippers-ballmer-kawhi-leonard-aspiration-probe
