The Los Angeles Clippers and their billionaire owner Steve Ballmer are facing explosive allegations that they funneled $28 million to star forward Kawhi Leonard through a questionable arrangement designed to bypass NBA salary cap rules. The report, brought forward by Pablo Torre on his show “Pablo Torre Finds Out”, outlines a deal between Ballmer’s investment-backed company and Leonard’s business entity that critics suggest amounted to a “no-show job.”
According to Torre, the arrangement centers on a tree-planting startup called Aspiration, once funded heavily by Ballmer. In a contract worth $28 million, Aspiration entered into a partnership with KL2 Aspire, LLC, a company owned by Leonard. The issue, Torre notes, is that there is little to no evidence Leonard ever engaged in marketing, endorsements, or promotional work for the company.
What makes the deal especially controversial are clauses in the agreement that seemed to give Leonard complete discretion over whether to perform any duties. One section allegedly allowed Leonard to “decline to proceed with any action desired by the Company,” essentially granting him the ability to collect millions without lifting a finger. Another clause tied his payments directly to his tenure with the Clippers, raising questions about whether the arrangement was designed as a hidden salary supplement.
Allegations of Cap Circumvention
The NBA has long treated attempts to skirt the salary cap as one of its gravest violations, ensuring parity and fairness among teams. Torre’s investigation included interviews with former Aspiration employees, one of whom agreed to speak only with their voice disguised. That employee claimed the agreement with Leonard existed explicitly to “circumvent the salary cap.”
Adding another layer of intrigue, the payments were reportedly sent to Dennis Robertson, Leonard’s longtime advisor and uncle, widely known as “Uncle Dennis.” Robertson was already investigated by the NBA in 2019 following rumors he requested impermissible benefits during Leonard’s free agency. At that time, the league found no evidence of wrongdoing. Still, commissioner Adam Silver described such violations as “a cardinal sin of the NBA” and made it clear the league would reopen any investigation if credible new evidence emerged.
The Clippers Push Back
The Clippers, however, have rejected the claims in strong terms. In a statement provided to Torre’s program, the team declared:
“Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration. Any contrary assertion is provably false.”
This denial leaves the NBA at a crossroads: whether to reopen its scrutiny into Leonard’s free agency, Ballmer’s dealings, and the legality of the Aspiration contract. As of now, the league has not commented publicly on Torre’s report, leaving the scandal to swirl largely in the court of public opinion.
Revisiting the 2019 Investigation
The NBA’s interest in Leonard’s negotiations with the Clippers is not new. When Leonard left the Toronto Raptors in 2019, reports surfaced alleging that Robertson had asked for everything from private planes to property ownership in exchange for Leonard’s signature. Those reports prompted a full investigation, but the league ultimately cleared both Leonard and the Clippers.
Despite the clearance, the skepticism surrounding Robertson’s role has never entirely faded. Torre’s report, with new documentation and testimony, has reignited speculation about whether Leonard’s acquisition by the Clippers was above board from the very beginning.
Leonard’s Career With the Clippers
Leonard officially joined the Clippers in 2019 on a three-year, $104 million contract. He quickly became the centerpiece of Ballmer’s ambitious effort to elevate the Clippers into a perennial contender, signing alongside fellow All-Star Paul George. Two years later, in 2021, Leonard signed a four-year, $176 million extension. In 2024, he committed again, this time to a three-year, $149 million deal.
His tenure has been marked by flashes of brilliance but also recurring injury concerns. Despite these challenges, Leonard remains one of the most valuable players in the NBA, and Ballmer’s willingness to build around him has never been in doubt. That loyalty, however, is now under scrutiny given the allegations that Ballmer found ways to pay Leonard beyond the limits of his official contracts.
What’s Next for the NBA?
At present, the NBA has not announced an inquiry into the new revelations, though Torre’s report has placed pressure on the league office. If evidence emerges to confirm the allegations, the consequences could be severe: fines, forfeited draft picks, voided contracts, and reputational damage not just for the Clippers, but also for Leonard and Ballmer.
The league’s emphasis on maintaining competitive balance makes this case particularly sensitive. Unlike small-market franchises that must adhere strictly to salary cap restrictions, Ballmer’s immense personal wealth gives him avenues to potentially fund side deals that most owners could never match. That disparity strikes at the heart of the NBA’s financial system.
The Bigger Picture
While this case is still developing, it has broader implications for the NBA. If a superstar like Leonard could secure tens of millions through an off-book corporate deal tied to team ownership, it raises questions about how many similar arrangements might exist in the shadows.
For now, the scandal remains an unproven but explosive story — one that threatens to cast a shadow over Leonard’s Clippers legacy and Ballmer’s reputation as one of the league’s most passionate, hands-on owners.
Whether the NBA chooses to act will determine whether these allegations fade as speculation or ignite into one of the biggest investigations in recent league history.
