Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has firmly reiterated his denial of allegations claiming he and his team circumvented the NBA salary cap concerning star player Kawhi Leonard. Speaking with `SportsCenter,` Ballmer challenged accusations that he facilitated a fraudulent “no-show” endorsement deal for Leonard.
These allegations stem from a recent report by investigative journalist Pablo Torre, who claimed Ballmer leveraged a $50 million investment in a company named Aspiration to secure a $28 million “no-show” deal for Leonard. If true, this arrangement would breach NBA rules against cap circumvention, prompting an ongoing league investigation into the matter.
Ballmer, however, strongly refutes Torre`s account, asserting that neither he nor the Clippers played any part in orchestrating a deal between Leonard and Aspiration, a company which is currently under its own fraud investigation.
While Ballmer and the team acknowledge investing in Aspiration in 2021, he maintains he had no influence over the company`s decision-making.
“We made an investment in the company,” Ballmer explained to ESPN, “and that was perfectly fine. Critically, under salary cap regulations, I had no control over this company. I owned less than three percent, and other investors contributed significantly more capital. I held no board seat and exercised no control. Frankly, it turned out to be a fraudulent company; it`s possible no one truly had control.”
Ballmer further clarified that Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration were not introduced until several months after the six-time All-Star signed his four-year maximum contract in August 2021. According to the Clippers owner, documents submitted to the Department of Justice as part of its Aspiration investigation demonstrate that Leonard did not interact with anyone from the company until November of the same year.
“At the time of Leonard`s contract signing, we hadn`t introduced Kawhi to Aspiration,” Ballmer stated. “Our dealings with Kawhi were complete, as were our initial dealings with Aspiration. All agreements were finalized. It was later that Aspiration requested an introduction to Kawhi. NBA rules permit us to introduce sponsors to our athletes, provided we are not otherwise involved. We simply facilitated an introduction. Given these facts, any circumvention simply didn`t, and couldn`t, have occurred.”
When questioned about Aspiration potentially paying Leonard $28 million without expecting a return, Ballmer attributed it to the company`s fraudulent practices and expressed his personal embarrassment over the entire affair.
“I truly don`t know why they acted the way they did,” Ballmer confessed to ESPN. “Any speculation would be baseless. These individuals committed fraud; they deceived me. I invested in them believing they were legitimate, and they swindled me. At this point, I cannot predict any of their actions, let alone the specifics of their contract with Kawhi.”
This isn`t the first time questions have arisen regarding Leonard`s dealings. In 2019, his uncle and advisor, Dennis Robertson, was investigated by the NBA over allegations of seeking improper benefits during the free agency period. While the league found no evidence to substantiate those claims then, the Aspiration scandal has reignited scrutiny around Leonard and his representation.
Ballmer dismissed any connection to past allegations, stating that the Clippers have consistently conducted their business within legal bounds.
“I believe that because Kawhi is relatively private, there`s a certain mystique surrounding him,” Ballmer commented. “This might lead fans to construct various narratives. However, the allegations have consistently been false. My primary concern is that we have always acted correctly in all our interactions. While Kawhi`s business is his own, we have maintained integrity.”
Documents obtained by Torre indicate that court filings show Aspiration still owes Leonard $7 million. Regarding his playing status, Leonard is currently in the second year of a three-year extension, signed in January 2024, and is scheduled to earn $50 million this season.
