The Los Angeles Clippers are pushing again in opposition to a report accusing them of participating in wage cap circumvention with star ahead Kawhi Leonard. The accusation stems from a March 2025 courtroom submitting from Aspiration, a now-bankrupt sustainability firm that had obtained $50 million in funding from Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer.
In accordance with investigative journalist Pablo Torre, Aspiration was going to pay Leonard $28 million in money between 2022-25 so long as he was taking part in for the Clippers. A former Aspiration worker within the finance division mentioned on Torre’s podcast that Leonard’s deal “was to avoid the wage cap.”
The Clippers, in a press release launched Wednesday evening, strongly denied the claims.
“Neither the Clippers nor Steve Ballmer circumvented the wage cap,” the Clippers wrote in a press release. “The notion that Steve invested in Aspiration with a view to funnel cash to Kawhi Leonard is absurd. Steve invested as a result of Aspiration’s co-founders introduced themselves as dedicated to doing proper by their prospects whereas defending the atmosphere.”
Kawhi Leonard contract drama, defined: Clippers, Steve Ballmer accused of $28 million NBA wage cap evasion
Sam Quinn
Within the assertion, the group mentioned that neither Ballmer nor the Clippers had information of any improper exercise by Aspiration or its co-founder till the federal government initiated its investigation. Aspiration, the group’s sponsor for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons earlier than defaulting on its contract, filed for chapter again in March. Its co-founder, Joseph Sanberg, just lately pleaded in a $243 million fraud case.
The Clippers burdened that Ballmer and the franchise didn’t have any oversight of Leonard’s unbiased endorsement settlement with Aspiration.
“To say in any other case is flat-out mistaken,” the assertion mentioned.
The Clippers acknowledged that they may welcome the NBA’s investigation associated to Aspiration and also will proceed to cooperate with regulation enforcement in its investigation into Aspiration’s “blatantly fraudulent exercise.”
The NBA mentioned Wednesday afternoon via a spokesperson that it’s “conscious of this morning’s media report concerning the LA Clippers” and is “commencing an investigation.”
