NBA set to investigate Kawhi Leonard's Los Angeles Clippers deal after claims of salary cap circumvention by Steve Ballmer

The last 24 hours or so have been the worst for NBA star forward Kawhi Leonard, his team, the Los Angeles Clippers, and their boss, Mr. Steve Ballmer. A recent report by an investigative journalist probed into an allegedly fake deal that was signed between Kawhi Leonard and a fintech company, named Aspiration.

The company filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, and its co-founder pleaded guilty to investment fraud. And now, just a few months later, Kawhi Leonard has managed to get himself dragged into this mess, and the world of the NBA is shook. So much so that they are now opening an investigation into the matter.

NBA to investigate recent reports about Los Angeles Clippers circumventing salary cap

The NBA salary cap has been designed for a reason, but sometimes, some teams do some under-the-table business - especially in their hopes to bring in star players even if they seem outside of their budget.

While it's not a thing that people do lightly, it looks like it's been happening for a few years in the Los Angeles Clippers team, as a recent investigative report says that Kawhi Leonard signed a "no-show" endorsement deal with an eco-friendly fintech company for $28 million, and is still set to receive a $7 million payout.

Since the report was made public and went viral, the NBA has stated that it will launch an investigation into the matter. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Wednesday,"We are aware of this morning's media report regarding the LA Clippers and are commencing an investigation."

The Clippers have denied any wrongdoing on their part - including owner Steve Ballmer and player Kawhi Leonard. They have also said that they welcomed the league's investigation to prove their innocence in the matter.

Why is Kawhi Leonard involved in the investigation?

Kawhi Leonard allegedly signed an endorsement deal for $28 million with the fintech company Aspiration. Around the same time, Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $50 million into the company, and the team and the company announced a $300 million partnership in 2021.

The partnership, though, was cancelled within two years, "when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations."

But given that both the Clippers and an LLC named KL2 Aspire (Kawhi Leonard's jersey number is 2) were named as creditors in a file alongside numerous others when Aspiration filed for bankruptcy. And that is where the whole thing came to light as revealed by Pablo Torre on his podcast. With an investigation taking place, fans will learn more about what really went down behind the scenes. Also Read: Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard’s name gets dragged in a “no-show” endorsement deal with a fraudulent company