Kawhi Leonard Reacts to Being Waived by the Clippers After $28,000,000 Scandal

In September 2025, an explosive report revealed that Kawhi Leonard, star forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, was allegedly involved in a $28 million “no-show” endorsement deal with the now-bankrupt green finance company Aspiration—a deal that may have been orchestrated to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap. The story broke when investigative journalist Pablo Torre uncovered Leonard’s LLC, KL2 Aspire, listed as a major creditor in Aspiration’s bankruptcy filings, having received $7 million despite doing no public promotion for the brand. Torre’s seven-month investigation found that Leonard had signed a 4-year, $28 million contract with Aspiration that included a clause allowing him to decline any marketing duties that conflicted with his personal beliefs—essentially nullifying all obligations. More alarming, the deal only remained valid if Leonard stayed with the Clippers, creating a hidden incentive tied directly to his team status. The scandal deepened when it was revealed that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had personally invested $50 million into Aspiration just weeks after Leonard signed a team-friendly contract in 2021, followed by a $300 million sponsorship deal between the Clippers and Aspiration. This sequence of events raised serious questions about coordinated salary cap circumvention, particularly since Leonard’s total compensation—when combined with the Aspiration money—would far exceed cap limits. The NBA, recalling its harsh 2000 punishment of the Timberwolves for a similar violation, launched an official investigation and hired a prestigious law firm to oversee the probe. Ballmer claimed he was defrauded by Aspiration’s founders and denied any knowledge of Leonard’s contract. However, critics remain skeptical, citing the convenient timeline, Ballmer’s history of aggressive front office tactics, and the involvement of Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson—who had previously been investigated for requesting improper benefits during free agency. Legal experts argue that even if Ballmer didn’t directly coordinate the deal, indirect compensation still violates league rules. The scandal threatens to derail the Clippers’ long-term plans, potentially leading to heavy fines, lost draft picks, voided contracts, and long-lasting implications for how corporate sponsorships and player endorsements are regulated in the NBA.