Clippers and Kawhi Leonard Under NBA Investigation for Alleged Salary Cap Circumvention

Tosin Abayomi 22:55 - 04 September 2025

Following an uncovered deal with Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers franchise has been accused of devising a scheme to bypass the NBA salary cap.

The NBA has launched an investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer following allegations that the franchise devised a scheme to circumvent the salary cap.

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Reports suggest additional payments were funnelled to Kawhi Leonard through a business partnership.

Clippers off-the-books partnership with Kawhi?

According to journalist Pablo Torre, Leonard allegedly received $28 million (approximately €24 million) in a "phantom job" linked to the company Aspiration, in which Ballmer was an investor.

Following an uncovered deal with Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers franchise has been accused of devising a scheme to bypass the NBA salary cap.

Days after Ballmer injected €43 million into the company, the Clippers announced a $257 million sponsorship deal with Aspiration.

In 2022, Leonard signed a four-year agreement with Aspiration, valid only while he remained with the Clippers and without any promotional obligations – an arrangement a former employee described as a way to "circumvent the salary cap."

The Clippers deny the accusations. "Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in misconduct related to Aspiration.

Exclusive: Kawhi Leonard signed a $28M endorsement deal for a "no-show job" with a fraudulent tree-planting company funded by $50M from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, according to documents obtained by @PabloTorre.

"It was to circumvent the salary cap," an inside source says. pic.twitter.com/F6z5pNEkI1
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) September 3, 2025

Any claims to the contrary are demonstrably false," the Californian franchise stated, adding that players are permitted to sign sponsorship deals with the organisation's partner companies.

"The idea that Steve invested in Aspiration to funnel money to Kawhi Leonard is absurd," they continued. NBA spokesperson Mike Bass confirmed that the league has initiated an investigation.

Steve Ballmer of Los Angeles Clippers

The league's Collective Bargaining Agreement outlines severe penalties for infractions, including fines up to €6.5 million, loss of draft picks, contract nullification, and executive suspensions.

This isn't the first time the Clippers and Leonard have faced scrutiny. In 2019, the club was fined for public statements made by then-coach Doc Rivers, who compared the player to Michael Jordan.