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Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer suggested he would welcome the NBA to look more closely if another franchise was accused of trying to bypass the league’s strict salary-cap parameters.
“I wanted the league to investigate, take it seriously,” Ballmer told ESPN on Thursday. “The rules for bypassing the salary are important to the league and I want the league to investigate.”
On Wednesday, NBA confirmed that a probe was underway. The league is “aware of the morning media report on La Clippers and [is] Embarking on an investigation, ”NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement.
Ballmer said he was left “embarrassed” and experienced “sadness” in the midst of the fall of Sportsmedia’s personality and podcaster Pablo Torres report, claiming he and Clippers avoided NBA’s payroll policies when Kawhi Leonard was signed with Los Angeles in 2021.
“We did things about the book,” said a firm Ballmer.
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Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is accused of trying to bypass NBA’s salary ceiling with a $ 28 million payment to Kawhi Leonard. (IMagn)
Torre reported that Clippers facilitated an approval agreement without a show for the two-time NBA final MVP. Trade with Aspiration Partners Inc. had an estimated value of $ 28 million. Aspiration, a “green” financial service company, has since lodged bankruptcy.
The company’s logo was shown on a Clippers Jersey Patch after it reached a $ 300 million sponsorship agreement in 2021, Los Angeles Business Journal reported at that time. Ballmer was also one of the company’s investors.
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Ballmer acknowledged that aspiration asked to be introduced to Leonard, but denied that he was aware of the approval agreement that the pages ultimately signed. Ballmer also made it clear that the company was working in his direction.
Despite the reported agreement on Multimillion dollar, Leonard was effectively never obliged to perform any services for the business.
A detailed overview of the Los Angeles Clippers logo at Center Court before the game against Oklahoma City Thunder at the Intuit Dome on March 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Leonard and Clippers reached a four-year contract extension, allegedly worth $ 173 million in August 2021. Ballmer noted that Leonard was first introduced to aspiration before November of that year.
“We were done. We were done with Kawhi, we were done with aspiration. The offers were all locked and loaded,” Ballmer said. “Then they requested to be introduced to Kawhi, and under the rules we can introduce our sponsors to our athletes. We just can’t be involved.
“We did an introduction it was in early November.”
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer sits court at the game against Dallas Mavericks at Intuit Dome on April 5, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imag images)
Ballmer also said that in collaboration with the Department of Justice probe for aspiration, there are ongoing reviews of the interaction with the company. In August, aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud.
“This was guys who committed fraud. Look, they connected me. They connected me. I made an investment in these guys who thought it was up-and-up and they connected me at this point. I have no ability to predict why they might have done something they did, so much less the specific contract with Kawhi.”
This is not the first time the NBA has investigated Leonard. In 2019, Leonard and his staff, primarily his uncle Dennis Robertson, allegedly made an incorrect appeal to teams under the small tip free agency. The Athletic reported at the time that Leonard’s representatives asked for private jet access, sharing ownership of a franchise and off-cart partnership guarantees.
By 2020, Johnny Wilkes filed a lawsuit that raised accusations of Clippers’ persecution of the then free-agent Leonard. The case that is alleged then rock consultant Jerry West promised to pay Wilkes $ 2.5 million if he helped the team land Leonard. The trial was eventually rejected and the NBA did not punish the rocks.
Ballmer was asked to comment on the many controversies that Leonard has been involved in his time with Clippers.
“I don’t know. I believe because he relatively doesn’t talk much, I think there’s a lot of mystery around Kawhi. And that may be the reason fan’s kind tells himself, [or] You know, create a story if you want. I’ve had a good relationship with Kawhi. I’ve got to know him a little. We sit down a few times a year and just talk about how the team is doing. “
Leonard performed in 37 games in the 2024-25 season when he fought for injuries again.
