Kawhi Leonard’s $28M ‘No-Show Job’ Sparks NBA Salary Cap Probe
NBA’s Next Big Scandal? Pablo Torre’s Bombshell Investigation
The Los Angeles Clippers are at the center of what could become the biggest NBA scandal in decades.
According to Pablo Torre’s seven-month investigation, Clippers star Kawhi Leonard was allegedly paid $28 million for a “no-show job” through a fraudulent startup called Aspiration — raising questions about whether Clippers owner Steve Ballmer secretly circumvented the NBA salary cap or whether the team was duped in a massive scam.
The fallout could include loss of draft picks, voided contracts, multi-million-dollar fines, or, in the most extreme case, a forced sale of the Clippers.
Inside Torre’s 3,000-Page Investigation
Pablo Torre spent seven months analyzing 3,000+ pages of confidential documents. His findings uncovered:
- Kawhi Leonard signed a 4-year, $28M endorsement deal with Aspiration, a “green fintech” startup.
- Clippers owner Steve Ballmer personally invested $50M into the same company.
- Aspiration also agreed to a $300M sponsorship deal with the Clippers for arena naming rights & signage.
- Kawhi Leonard reportedly did zero deliverables for the deal — no ads, no campaigns, no appearances.
This raises a burning question:
Was this an intentional workaround of NBA salary rules … or a $248M scam that trapped everyone involved?
The Fraudulent Tree-Planting Startup That Fooled Everyone
Aspiration positioned itself as a climate-focused fintech startup helping businesses offset carbon emissions. The pitch?
- Companies paid $1 per tree planted
- Actual cost per tree: 10 cents
- Aspiration pocketed the rest — a 90% profit margin
They signed big-name deals with Meta, Lyft, Deloitte, Boston Red Sox, and even the Clippers. Investors included Leonardo DiCaprio, Drake, Robert Downey Jr., and Orlando Bloom.
By 2021, Aspiration announced plans to go public via a $2.3B SPAC, claiming $250M cash on hand. But behind the scenes, the company had less than $1M in real liquidity.
Follow the Money: Kawhi’s $28M Deal
In September 2021, Steve Ballmer invested $50M in Aspiration.
A month later, Aspiration struck a $300M sponsorship deal with the Clippers for arena naming rights.
Then, Kawhi Leonard signed a $28M personal endorsement contract through an LLC — with eyebrow-raising clauses:
- Leonard could opt out of all deliverables if they conflicted with his “beliefs”
- The deal automatically terminated if he left the Clippers
- Leonard never posted about Aspiration, never appeared in ads, and never fulfilled deliverables
Shortly after, Aspiration collapsed into bankruptcy — leaving Clippers owed $30M and Leonard owed $7M.
The NBA’s Dilemma: Fraud or Cap Circumvention?
This isn’t just a Clippers problem — it’s an NBA-wide headache.
The league is investigating whether:
- Ballmer funneled off-the-books payments to Leonard via Aspiration
- Or, like dozens of other investors, Ballmer was scammed
If the NBA rules this was salary cap manipulation, the penalties could be severe:
- Loss of multiple draft picks
- Massive fines (potentially tens of millions)
- Voided contracts
- In extreme cases, ownership sanctions
Why These Deals Happen All the Time
Leonard isn’t the only NBA star signing endorsement deals with team sponsors.
- LeBron James → Crypto.com (Lakers arena sponsor)
- Steph Curry → JP Morgan (Warriors partner)
- Patrick Mahomes → Oakley (Chiefs partner)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo → BMO Bank (Bucks partner)
These deals are legal as long as they’re arms-length and not disguised salary payments.
But Leonard’s deal stands out because of the opt-out clauses, no deliverables, and the suspicious $300M sponsorship overlap.
The Key Question
Did Steve Ballmer knowingly use Aspiration to secretly pay Leonard more than the NBA allows?
Or was Ballmer scammed out of $50M, just like dozens of investors — including Meta, celebrities, and financial institutions?
At this point, there’s no smoking gun tying Ballmer directly to wrongdoing, but former Aspiration employees told Torre the deal was structured to bypass the salary cap.
What Happens Next
- The NBA investigation is ongoing
- The Clippers’ financial records are under review
- Other player endorsement deals across the league could face new scrutiny
- Pablo Torre has hinted he may investigate similar deals with the Knicks, Heat, and Warriors
Final Takeaway
This scandal could reshape how the NBA polices team sponsorships and player endorsements.
- If Ballmer cheated the cap, the Clippers face historic penalties.
- If Ballmer got scammed, the NBA’s hands may be tied.
Either way, Kawhi Leonard’s $28M “no-show job” has exposed a massive gray area in how modern sports franchises handle money — and the NBA might be forced to finally address it. Explore more up-to-date news on our dedicated sports news USA!
