Report: Clippers circumvented cap with $28M endorsement deal for Kawhi

Kawhi Leonard signed a $28-million "no-show" endorsement deal with Aspiration - a "green bank" and tree planting company currently under federal investigation for fraud that received $50 million in funding from Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, reports Pablo Torre of the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast, citing company documents and sources.

The agreement was designed to allow the Clippers to "circumvent the salary cap," a former Aspiration employee told Torre. Multiple ex-Aspiration employees described the arrangement with Leonard as a "no-show job."

The Clippers denied any wrongdoing in a statement to Torre.

"Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration. Any contrary assertion is provably false," the team said.

Ballmer agreed to invest in the environmental startup in September 2021, according to documents obtained by Torre, and announced a Clippers partnership with Aspiration later that month. Leonard signed the endorsement deal in April 2022.

Aspiration agreed to pay KL2 Aspire LLC $28 million in cash over the course of the deal - including $7 million annually, Torre reports, citing the contract itself.

Aspiration filed for bankruptcy in March 2025 and owed $7 million to KL2 Aspire LLC, which is managed by the Clippers star, per documents obtained by Torre.

Various celebrities endorsed the company, including Robert Downey Jr. and Drake. However, Leonard apparently never made a public appearance or reference that promoted Aspiration. Under his contract with the company, Leonard had "the exclusive right to control and approve all content and distribution," and Aspiration could terminate the deal if Leonard was "no longer an employee of the (Clippers) for any reason."

Leonard originally joined the Clippers in 2019, inking a three-year, $103-million contract. The NBA reportedly investigated Leonard's free agency that year due to allegations that Leonard's uncle, Dennis Robertson, had asked teams for "improper benefits" that would violate the CBA, but the league didn't find evidence that the Clippers had granted any of those requests. Leonard opted out of the final year of his original deal and signed a four-year, $176.3-million contract in August 2021 to remain with the club.

Los Angeles signed Leonard to a three-year, $149.5-million extension in January 2024. The two-time Finals MVP won't be a free agent until 2027.

Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg pleaded guilty in August to defrauding investors and lenders of more than $248 million.