Sports

NBA Probes Clippers Over Alleged $28M Leonard Cap Evasion

Published SEP 4 2025

Story

Above: Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts during the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2025. Image credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The Facts

The NBA on Wednesday announced it is commencing an investigation into allegations that the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented salary cap rules through a $28 million endorsement deal between Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration, a now-bankrupt environmental company.
The New York Times
ESPN.com
Daily Mail
The story emerged during a Wednesday episode of the podcast "Pablo Torre Finds Out." During the show, Torre revealed how his investigation found that Leonard received a four-year, $28 million contract from Aspiration starting in April 2022, with former company employees alleging it was a no-show job designed to circumvent NBA salary cap rules.
Pablo Torre on Youtube
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had invested $50 million in Aspiration through his personal LLC in September 2021. The Clippers announced a $300 million partnership with the company later that same month.
ESPN.com
The New York Times
Daily Mail
Aspiration filed for bankruptcy in March 2025 after co-founder Joseph Sanberg pleaded guilty to defrauding investors of $248 million. The Clippers, Forum Entertainment and Leonard's LLC were listed as the company's three largest creditors.
NBC
The New York Times
The Times of India
The Clippers strongly denied all allegations, stating that neither Ballmer nor the organization circumvented the salary cap and that they ended their relationship with Aspiration during the 2022-23 season when the company defaulted on obligations.
CBS Sports
Los Angeles Times
Under NBA collective bargaining agreement rules, teams found guilty of salary cap circumvention face penalties including fines up to $7.5 million, forfeiture of draft picks, contract voiding and potential suspension of team personnel for up to one year.
ESPN.com
The New York Times
Daily Mail

Sources Split

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CENTER

RIGHT

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CRIT

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

It shouldn't be a surprise that Ballmer, whose net worth on Tuesday stood at $174 billion, would use his financial muscle to get a leg up on other teams, even if it meant skirting the salary cap. This would explain Leonard's decision to leave the Toronto Raptors when staying around would've benefited him financially in the long run. Commissioner Adam Silver investigated the Clippers' Leonard signing once before and found nothing, so the heat is on him now.

sportsnet.ca

Narrative B

The NBA might not like what it finds when it probes this situation. If the Clippers really funneled the money to Leonard via a no‑show deal, it would've been a bold attempt to dodge the NBA’s salary cap— something other rich owners might've also done, but without getting caught. Other contracts have raised pundits' eyebrows and we're going to find out if this potential scandal goes beyond Los Angeles.

Yahoo Sports

Narrative C

It wouldn't make sense for the Clippers to attempt a scheme like this, and instead it appears they were among the ones who got scammed. Aspiration was stealing money and then it went bankrupt, while Ballmer didn't even attempt to save it. If Ballmer was trying to circumvent the salary cap, he wouldn't have allowed the identity of the creditors to become public.