— Former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban publicly defended Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer after a podcast report alleged a $28 million endorsement arrangement tied to Kawhi Leonard was used to skirt the NBA salary cap. The report prompted an NBA investigation, a Clippers denial and renewed scrutiny of Aspiration, the startup linked to the deal that later filed for bankruptcy.
Key Takeaways
- Mark Cuban posted on X that he supports Steve Ballmer and doubts Ballmer would intentionally risk his team or company to hide payments.
- Pablo Torre reported that Kawhi Leonard had a four-year, $28 million endorsement agreement (2022–25) with Aspiration.
- Aspiration, a Ballmer-backed sustainability startup, declared bankruptcy earlier in 2025; co‑founder Joe Sanberg was arrested on alleged wire fraud charges.
- The NBA confirmed it is investigating the allegation that the agreement may have been used to circumvent the salary cap.
- The Clippers issued a public denial, saying neither the team nor Ballmer circumvented the cap and rejecting claims they funneled money to Leonard.
- Cuban says the Clippers and Ballmer were likely victims of a scam rather than actors in a deliberate cap-evasion scheme.
Verified Facts
Pablo Torre reported on his podcast that filings in Aspiration’s bankruptcy showed the Los Angeles Clippers and KL2 Aspire (Kawhi Leonard’s LLC) listed among the company’s creditors, and that Leonard had an endorsement contract worth $28 million across four years (2022–25). The reporting prompted broad media attention on Sept. 3, 2025.
The NBA issued a statement confirming it has opened an investigation into the matter. League investigations into potential salary-cap circumvention typically involve reviewing contracts, payment flows and communications tied to teams, players and third-party entities.
Aspiration, a sustainability startup that counts Steve Ballmer among its backers, filed for bankruptcy earlier in 2025. News reports say Aspiration’s co‑founder Joe Sanberg was arrested on charges that include alleged wire fraud; those developments have been reported in bankruptcy documents and law‑enforcement filings cited by podcasters and news outlets.
Mark Cuban responded on X, writing, in part, “I’m on Team Ballmer,” and arguing that Ballmer would not knowingly expose his team or business to the kind of public creditor scrutiny that would follow deliberate cap evasion. Cuban also suggested the Clippers were among those scammed by Aspiration.
The Clippers issued a public rebuttal, saying neither the team nor Ballmer circumvented the salary cap and calling the idea that Ballmer invested in Aspiration to funnel money to Leonard “absurd.”
Context & Impact
If the league’s probe finds evidence a team structured an endorsement to disguise salary payments, penalties could include fines, loss of draft picks and other sanctions; player contracts could be voided or recharacterized for cap accounting. The NBA has pursued similar enforcement actions in past cases involving third‑party arrangements.
Beyond potential sanctions, the allegations raise reputational risk for the Clippers, Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard, and they could affect future team-building decisions, sponsorship deals and investor confidence in startups tied to high-profile sports figures.
For Aspiration, bankruptcy and criminal charges against a co‑founder complicate any attempt to explain payment flows or contractual intent. The involvement of multiple creditors in the bankruptcy record has made those filings a focal point for investigators and reporters.
Official Statements
“Neither the Clippers nor Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap… The notion that Steve invested in Aspiration in order to funnel money to Kawhi Leonard is absurd.”
Los Angeles Clippers statement
“I’m on Team Ballmer. As much as I wish they circumvented the salary cap, First Steve isn’t that dumb.”
Mark Cuban, post on X
Unconfirmed
- Whether the $28 million Aspiration agreement was structured specifically to mask payments tied to Leonard’s Clippers salary remains alleged and under league investigation.
- Any direct evidence that Steve Ballmer personally authorized or directed payments to Kawhi Leonard outside sanctioned channels has not been publicly disclosed.
- Cuban’s statement that Aspiration and others “pleaded guilty” to crimes should be treated as his characterization; court records and official filings should be consulted for confirmation.
Bottom Line
The story has moved quickly from a podcast report to a formal NBA inquiry and public denials. Confirmed facts show a reported Aspiration contract with Kawhi Leonard, Aspiration’s bankruptcy and an ongoing league review. Key allegations about deliberate salary‑cap circumvention and Ballmer’s personal role remain unproven; the NBA investigation and bankruptcy proceedings will be the primary sources for verification in the coming weeks.