— Allegations that Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard received $28 million in payments tied to a bankrupt tree-planting startup have prompted the NBA to open an investigation into possible salary-cap circumvention involving Aspiration Partners and links to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
Key takeaways
- Aspiration Partners agreed to a $28 million endorsement contract for Leonard, of which $21 million was paid and $7 million remains owed.
- Reporting alleges Leonard did not perform the endorsement work cited in the contract.
- Aspiration received a $50 million investment from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer; the company filed for bankruptcy in March 2025.
- The NBA has launched an inquiry; Article 13 of the current CBA prescribes a maximum first-offense penalty of a $4.5 million fine, one first-round draft pick lost, and potential voiding of offending contracts.
- Historical precedent: Minnesota Timberwolves were punished in 2000 for secret deals to evade the cap, resulting in fines and loss of draft picks.
- Clippers have denied wrongdoing and say they had no oversight of Leonard’s independent endorsement agreement.
Verified facts
Bankruptcy records and reporting by The Athletic state that Aspiration Partners entered a 2022 endorsement contract with an entity called KL2 Aspire that listed Kawhi Leonard as manager and tied payments to Leonard’s jersey number. Documents show $21 million was paid and $7 million was due under the four-year arrangement.
Aspiration was once a digital bank that marketed socially responsible financial products and carbon-related services. The company later collapsed into bankruptcy amid federal allegations that its co-founder, Joseph Sanberg, defrauded investors and lenders; prosecutors say losses exceeded $248 million.
Aspiration had been announced as a long-term sponsor of the Clippers’ Intuit Dome with obligations reportedly exceeding $300 million over two decades, but the Clippers later said Aspiration was no longer a sponsor before the arena opened in August 2024.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Contracted endorsement total | $28,000,000 |
| Paid to date | $21,000,000 |
| Remaining owed | $7,000,000 |
Context & impact
The NBA salary cap sets an annual payroll ceiling tied to league revenue, intended to maintain competitive balance. For 2024-25 the cap was $140.6 million. Penalties for exceeding or evading the cap can include escalating luxury taxes and, for willful circumvention, fines and loss of draft assets.
If the NBA finds that payments to Leonard were structured to avoid cap charges, the league could impose penalties under the CBA. The Clippers do not have a first-round pick until 2027, which complicates the league’s ability to remove a current pick as punishment.
Beyond penalties, the case could affect roster-building norms and compliance scrutiny across the league, especially for teams with deep-owner involvement in outside businesses tied to players.
- Potential consequences for the Clippers: fine, lost draft capital, voided contracts.
- Potential consequences for players: contract adjustments or reputational harm if endorsements are found to be sham deals.
Official statements
There is nothing unusual or untoward about team sponsors doing endorsement deals with players on the same team. Neither Steve nor the Clippers organization had any oversight of Kawhi’s independent endorsement agreement with Aspiration. The Clippers take NBA compliance extremely seriously and welcome the league’s investigation.
Los Angeles Clippers statement
The NBA has confirmed it is investigating the matter.
National Basketball Association
Unconfirmed
- No public evidence has established whether Steve Ballmer knew about or directed the Aspiration-Leonard agreement.
- Reports alleging Leonard performed no work for Aspiration are based on investigative reporting and company records, not a court finding.
- Whether the payments were expressly intended to evade the salary cap remains under league investigation and has not been proven.
Bottom line
The Aspiration-Leonard payments prompted an NBA probe that could test the limits of current CBA enforcement. Outcomes will depend on the league’s review of contracts, company records and testimony; penalties could affect the Clippers’ short- and medium-term roster planning and draft assets.