Former Aspiration CEO Denies “Ghost” Contract with Kawhi Leonard
Andrei Cherny, former CEO of Aspiration, the company allegedly used by Steve Ballmer, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, to evade the salary cap, denied the accusations about a “phantom” contract of Kawhi Leonard. Cherny, who left the company in 2022, stated that Leonard’s contract contained detailed obligations and that Aspiration could terminate it if they were not met.The controversy arose following reports of a $28 million sponsorship deal between Aspiration and Leonard in 2022. Ballmer invested $50 million in the company in 2021, and the Clippers announced a $300 million partnership with Aspiration. An anonymous Aspiration employee suggested that the payment to Leonard sought to circumvent the salary cap. Furthermore, it was revealed that Dennis J. Wong, a limited partner of the Clippers, invested $1.99 million in Aspiration in 2022, shortly before a $1.75 million payment to Leonard. Ballmer, for his part, invested an additional $10 million in 2023. The NBA is investigating potential violations of league rules by Ballmer and the Clippers, who deny any wrongdoing. Cherny, in his statement, indicated that he signed the contract with Leonard in 2022. Cherny added that he did not recall conversations about the NBA salary cap during the discussions prior to the signing of the agreement. Aspiration declared bankruptcy in 2025, and its co-founder, Joe Sanberg, pleaded guilty to fraud for more than $248 million.The contract contained three pages of extensive obligations that Leonard had to fulfill. And the contract clearly stated that if Leonard did not fulfill those obligations, Aspiration could terminate the contract.
Andrei Cherny
