LA Clippers Accused Of 'No-Show-Job' For Kawhi Leonard To Circumvent NBA Rules

Last Updated:September 03, 2025, 23:55 IST

A journalist referenced documents stating Leonard received payment through a now-bankrupt tree-planting company, with significant investment from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.

Kawhi Leonard. (X)

The NBA team Los Angeles Clippers has been accused of bypassing salary cap rules by allegedly paying Kawhi Leonard $28 million for a non-existent job, according to allegations made on the ‘Pablo Finds Out’ podcast.

Journalist Pablo Torre referenced legal documents stating that Leonard received payment through a now-bankrupt tree-planting company called Aspiration, where Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was a significant investor.

Torre reported that Leonard signed a four-year contract worth $28 million to market and endorse Aspiration, but he never fulfilled these duties.

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Leonard, an NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors, joined the Clippers in a high-profile deal in 2019 after leading the Raptors to a championship.

As a free agent, Leonard accepted less money than Toronto offered to play alongside Paul George and return to his hometown of Los Angeles. He signed a three-year contract extension reportedly worth $153 million in January 2024.

An unnamed employee, who claimed to have worked for Aspiration, told Torre that the payment to Leonard was intended to circumvent the salary cap.

The Clippers issued a statement to Torre denying these allegations.

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“Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration," the statement said.

“Any contrary assertion is provably false," the club added.

(With Inputs From AFP)

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United States of America (USA)

First Published:

September 03, 2025, 23:55 IST

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