Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard denies wrongdoing in endorsement deal

INGLEWOOD — On a day when talk should have centered on season goals, new players and renewed expectations, the Clippers spent Monday answering questions regarding allegations of rules violations involving an endorsement deal with their biggest star.

In his first comments since the story broke earlier this month, nine-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard strongly downplayed reports that he received a four-year $28 million “no-show” endorsement deal from the environmental company Aspiration, allegations made by investigative reporter Pablo Torre in his “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast.

Leonard also reportedly received $20 million in Aspiration company stock, according to the Boston Sports Journal.

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“I understand the full contract and the services that I had to do,” Leonard said at the Clippers’ preseason media day. “Like I said, I don’t deal with the conspiracies, or the click-bait analysts or journalism that’s going on, so that’s what it is.”

Asked whether it was true that he was not required to make appearances on behalf of Aspiration, Leonard said, “I don’t think it’s accurate, but it (contract) is old. This is all new to you guys. The company went bankrupt a while ago, so we already knew this was going to happen.”

Aspiration owed Leonard about $7 million of the $28 million deal it had with him when the company filed for bankruptcy.

“I got to look back at the books,” Leonard said, “but it was more than that, for sure.”

Asked if he received the money he was owed, Leonard replied, “Uh, no, but the company went belly up. It was fraud as everyone knows.”

Leonard’s deal is at the heart of an NBA investigation into whether the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer tried to circumvent the league’s rules regarding the salary cap. Ballmer invested almost $10 million into Aspiration in March 2023, according to The Athletic, in addition to a $50 million investment in the now-bankrupt firm.

In addition, Torre reported on Monday that Ballmer’s philanthropic organization made a $1.875 million donation to Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg’s charity, the Golden State Opportunity Foundation, in November 2024, nearly a year after the Clippers had ended their business relationship with the Aspiration company.

Ballmer claimed in an ESPN interview that he lost his investments in the company and was “conned” by Sanberg, as were other investors.

“There was no wrongdoing done. The NBA is doing their job. None of us did no wrongdoing. That’s it,” Leonard said. “We invite the investigations. It’s not going to be a distraction for me or my team.”

Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was limited in what he could say about the pending investigation, but said, “We do look forward to providing the facts to the league so they can see the entire picture, which I think is critical.

“We feel very, very confident we’re on the right side of this and we’ll just focus on what we can control and trust in the investigative process.”

“We’re eager for the truth to come out,” Frank said while reading from a prepared statement. “The assumptions and conclusions that have been made are disappointing and upsetting.”

“I’m hurt for Steve (Ballmer). He’s one of the best people and most honorable people I’ve ever met,” Frank said. “He does things the right way for the right reasons and he constantly reminds us to stay on the right side of the rules.”

Leonard’s uncle and advisor, Dennis Robertson, allegedly acted as a liaison between the Clippers and Aspiration in securing the multi-million-dollar deal. Robertson’s name appears in a contract between Aspiration and KL2 Aspire LLC, a company in which Leonard was a manager, according to several reports.

Frank evaded questions about whether Robertson has ever asked for extra benefits that are not allowed under the NBA salary cap.

“Look, Dennis knows the rules. Kawhi knows the rules. Mitch Franco (Leonard’s agent) knows the rules, and we know the rules,” Frank said.

Pressed further, Frank said, “We all know the rules.”

The league can issue stiff penalties if cap rules are found to have been broken by a team. That could include a fine of up to $7.5 million, the voiding of contracts and the forfeiture of future draft picks.

Frank said he didn’t think the pending investigation would be a distraction during the upcoming season, which begins with the start of training camp on Tuesday.

“They (the players) know that we’re very confident that we’re on the right side of things and then you just focus on what you can control,” Frank said.

“They have great pride in being Clippers, so obviously they don’t want to hear any disparaging remarks, allegations, accusations, yet at the same time they’re focused on playing, competing and bringing their best.”