Kawhi Leonard’s 2019 move to the Los Angeles Clippers was a highlight of one of the most eventful offseasons in recent NBA history. In the six seasons since, Leonard and the Clippers have yet to reach championship success, but the latest news about the two-time Finals MVP now clouds his entire tenure in Los Angeles.
According to investigative reporter Pablo Torre, Leonard allegedly received payment of $28 million from 2022 to 2025 by a now-bankrupt company partially funded by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer in hopes of circumventing the NBA salary cap.
Leonard has made nearly $250 million through multiple contracts with the Clippers since he joined the team in 2019. The NBA has yet to comment on the report, but if true, they could fine the team up to $4.5 million and force them to forfeit a first-round pick, according to CBS Sports.
Torre’s Reporting On Kawhi Leonard
Torre, currently of The Athletic, said that Leonard signed a deal with the company Aspiration to be paid $28 million from 2022 to 2025, as long as he was a member of the Clippers.
The now bankrupt company’s co-founder, Joseph Sanberg, was found guilty of defrauding multiple investors, and they still reportedly owe Leonard $7 million from the contract he originally signed with them.
“It was to circumvent the salary cap,” an inside source says.
Leonard never engaged in any marketing, ad campaigns, or mentioned the company at all, but from Torre’s findings, they have been paying the two-time Finals MVP over the course of a few years. Torre believes it was to circumvent the NBA salary cap, paying Leonard ‘under the table‘ in hopes of using the remainder of their salary cap to sign other players.
According to the NBA’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement, a team could be found liable for circumventing the salary cap by one of their players entering:
“Into an agreement or understanding with any sponsor or business partner or third party under which such sponsor, business partner, or third party pays or agrees to pay compensation for basketball services…(when) such compensation from the sponsor or business partner or third party is substantially in excess of the fair market value of any services to be rendered by the player for such sponsor or business partner or third party.”
Balmer, the current owner of the Clippers, also reportedly invested nearly $50 million in Aspiration. He is accused of ‘using the agreement as a way to pay Leonard more than his contract, which — if true — is a violation of NBA rules,‘ according to Yahoo Sports.
Aspiration was reportedly in agreement with Leonard’s KL2 Aspire company, making payments to the LLC rather than the player directly, according to Torre.
Clippers Respond To Accusations
The Clippers organization was quick to respond to Torre’s accusations. In a statement made to him, the franchise denied any accusations that Leonard or Balmer engaged in any misconduct to circumvent the salary cap.
“Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration. Any contrary assertion is provably false,” the Clippers wrote. “The team ended its relationship with Aspiration years ago, during the 2022-23 season, when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations. Neither the Clippers nor Mr. Ballmer was aware of any improper activity by Aspiration or its co-founder until after the government instituted its investigation. The team and Mr. Ballmer stand ready to assist law enforcement in any way they can.”
The Clippers were also under a previous investigation involving their signing of Leonard in the 2019 NBA offseason. According to a 2020 lawsuit, team consultant Jerry West reportedly paid someone $2.5 million in hopes of acquiring the six-time All-Star. They denied the claim and were never punished.
The Athletic’s Sam Amick also reported in 2019 that a complaint was made to the league for Leonard’s uncle, who was asking for ‘improper benefits during the free agency process.’
Since Leonard arrived in Los Angeles, the Clippers have yet to win their first championship in franchise history. They have made the playoffs in all but one of his six seasons with the team, highlighted by a conference finals appearance in 2021.
Neither Leonard nor Balmer has yet to respond to Torre’s accusations.
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers Accused Of Circumventing Salary Cap