NBA Investigates Clippers, Ballmer Over Leonard $28M Endorsement Fraud Allegations

The Los Angeles Clippers and their owner Steve Ballmer are under investigation for allegedly circumventing the NBA salary cap by funneling $28 million to star player Kawhi Leonard through a purportedly fraudulent endorsement deal with Aspiration, a now-bankrupt sustainability company partially funded by Ballmer. Ballmer denies knowledge of the specifics of the endorsement contract, stating he only introduced Leonard to Aspiration and was unaware of the deal's details or amount. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed surprise at the revelations and confirmed the league has hired an outside firm to investigate the matter thoroughly. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban defended Ballmer and the Clippers, arguing that the fraud was orchestrated by Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg, who has pleaded guilty to defrauding investors. Former Aspiration CEO Andrei Cherny also refuted claims that Leonard's deal was a 'no-show' contract, emphasizing the obligations contained within it. The investigation continues as the league seeks to determine whether any improprieties occurred in connection with this complex financial arrangement.