Steve Ballmer Demands NBA Investigation into the Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration Case
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has expressed his desire for the NBA to thoroughly investigate allegations that the team may have violated the league’s salary rules. This stems from a report involving Kawhi Leonard and a sponsorship deal with Aspiration, a green banking company now in bankruptcy.The NBA has announced that it will launch an investigation to determine whether the Clippers and Ballmer violated league rules. The focus is on the $28 million sponsorship deal that Leonard accepted from Aspiration, a company in which Ballmer had invested. Ballmer stated that Aspiration asked him to introduce the company to Leonard, but denied having knowledge of the sponsorship contract that was ultimately signed. According to Ballmer, the presentation took place in November 2021, three months after the Clippers agreed to a contract extension for $173 million with Leonard. In September 2021, the Clippers announced a $300 million partnership with Aspiration, which included the sponsorship of the new stadium and the patch on the team’s jersey. Ballmer revealed that Aspiration had also requested the naming rights to the stadium, even offering more than Intuit, which was ultimately selected.“I want the league to investigate, to take it seriously,” Ballmer said.
Steve Ballmer
Ballmer added that he reviewed his interaction with the company as part of the team’s cooperation with a Department of Justice investigation into Aspiration. Co-founder Joe Sanberg pleaded guilty to wire fraud for defrauding investors and lenders of more than $248 million. Ballmer admitted that he felt “ashamed” for not having detected the problems with the company. This situation adds to a series of accusations about Leonard’s business dealings with the Clippers. The NBA investigated the team following accusations that Leonard and his team, led by his uncle Dennis Robertson, made improper requests to other teams during his free agency in the summer of 2019. The league cleared the Clippers of any wrongdoing, but indicated that it would reopen the investigation if new information emerged. The league also investigated the Clippers’ pursuit of Leonard following a December 2020 lawsuit filed by Johnny Wilkes, who alleged he helped the team acquire Leonard in exchange for a $2.5 million payment from Clippers consultant Jerry West. The Clippers denied the allegations and the lawsuit was dismissed. The league imposed no sanctions. In response to questions about the accusations, Ballmer stated:“We were already done. We were ready with Kawhi, we were ready with Aspiration. The deals were closed,” Ballmer explained. “Then they requested to be introduced to Kawhi, and according to the rules we can introduce our sponsors to our athletes. We just can’t be involved.”
Steve Ballmer
“They know the rules. They, referring to Kawhi and his representatives, including his uncle. We know the rules. And if something is not clear, we remind ourselves what the rules are and make it absolutely clear that we are going to comply with them and they understand them too. And it’s important that they comply, which they have done.”
Steve Ballmer
