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The owner of Los Angeles Clippers, Steve Ballmer, suggested that he would welcome the NBA to take a close look if another franchise were accused of trying to avoid the strict parameters of salary capital of the League.
“I would like the league to investigate, take it seriously,” Ballmer told ESPN on Thursday. “The Rules of the Salary Cover are important for the League, and I would like the League to investigate.”
On Wednesday, the NBA confirmed that an investigation was underway. The League is “aware of this morning’s media report on the clippers and [is] Starting an investigation, “said NBA spokesman Mike Bass, in a statement.
Ballmer said he was “ashamed” and experienced “sadness” in the midst of the personality of the sports media and the Podcaster Pablo Torre report that said he and the clippers evaded the NBA’s salary capitalization policies when Kawhi Leonard signed with Los Angeles in 2021.
“We did things for the book,” said a convincing convict.
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The owner of Los Angeles Clippers, Steve Ballmer, is being accused of trying to avoid the salary limit of the NBA with a payment of $ 28 million to Kawhi Leonard. (IMAGN)
Torre reported that the clippers facilitated a non -presentation approval agreement for the twice MVP of the NBA finals. The agreement, with aspiration partners Inc., had an estimated value of $ 28 million. The aspiration, a “green” financial services company, has declared bankruptcy.
The company’s logo appeared in a clippers jersey patch after a $ 300 million sponsorship agreement in 2021 reached, the Los Angeles Business Journal reported at that time. Ballmer was also one of the company’s investors.
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Ballmer acknowledged that the aspiration requested to be presented to Leonard, but denied that he was aware of the support agreement that the sides finally signed. Ballmer also made it clear that the company was operating under its direction.
Despite the reported billionaire agreement, Leonard effectively never had replacement for any service for the company.
A detailed view of the Los Angeles Clippers logo in Center Court before the match against Oklahoma City Thunder in Intuit Dome on March 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Leonard and the clippers reached a four -year contract extension, according to the reports, with a value of $ 173 million in August 2021. Ballmer said Leonard did not appear to the aspiration until November of that same year.
“We finished. We ended with Kawhi, we had ended up with aspiration. All the agreements were closed and loaded,” said Ballmer. “Then, they requested to be presented to Kawhi, and under the rules, we can present our sponsors to our athletes. We simply cannot participate.
“We did an introduction, which was at the beginning of November.”
The owner of Los Angeles Clippers, Steve Ballmer, is on the court before the match against Dallas Mavericks in Intuit Dome on April 5, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn images)
Ballmer also said that in cooperation with the investigation of the Department of Justice on aspiration, the revisions of interaction with the company are ongoing. In August, the co -founder of the aspiration, Joe Sanberg, declared himself guilty of two charges of wire fraud.
“These were guys who committed fraud. Look, they contained me. They cheated on me. I made an investment in these guys thinking that I was in the best place, and they cheated me at this stage. I do not have the ability to predict why they could have done something they did, much less the specific contract with Kawhi.”
This is not the first time that NBA investigates Leonard. In 2019, Leonard and his associates, mainly his uncle Dennis Robertson, allegedly made inappropriate appeals to the teams during the small striker’s free agency. Athletics reported at that time that Leonard representatives requested private access to airplanes, owned by a franchise and association guarantees outside the court.
In 2020, Johnny Wilkes filed a lawsuit that raises accusations about the search for Leonard’s clippers of the then free agent. The lawsuit claimed that customer consultant Jerry West promised to pay Wilkes $ 2.5 million if he helped the team land Leonard. The demand was finally dismissed, and the NBA did not penalize the clippers.
Ballmer was asked to comment on the numerous controversies in which Leonard has been involved during his time with the clippers.
“I don’t know. I think because he, relatively, doesn’t speak much, I think there is much mystery around Kawhi. And that may be the reason why fans tell themselves, [or] You know, create a narrative, if you want. I have had a great relationship with Kawhi. I have come to know him a little. We sat a couple of times a year and talk about how the team is. “
Leonard appeared in 37 games during the 2024-25 season, since he once again fought the injuries.
