Kawhi Leonard reportedly made more from his endorsement deal with Aspiration than stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Drake, and Robert Downey Jr. Pablo Torre of The Athletic highlighted the surprising earnings while detailing the company’s financial collapse.
Aspiration, a tree-planting company now in bankruptcy, saw Leonard as a priority for payments, according to documents uncovered by Torre. Other high-profile endorsers and celebrities reportedly earned significantly less despite their public influence.
The deal, valued at $28 million, is under NBA scrutiny for potential salary cap circumvention linked to Leonard’s 2019 signing with the Los Angeles Clippers. NBA spokesman Mike Bass confirmed the league is reviewing the arrangement.
The Clippers’ ownership, led by Steve Ballmer, held a minor stake in Aspiration, raising questions about whether Leonard’s deal influenced his decision to join the team. Ballmer has denied any wrongdoing, stating the investment was under three percent and that Leonard’s contract was negotiated independently.
The NBA hired Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to oversee the investigation, the same firm involved in high-profile cases including probes into Donald Sterling and Robert Sarver. Interviews with Leonard and Clippers executives are expected as part of the review.
Insider Sam Amick note potential penalties if violations are found, including voiding contracts, executive suspensions, or financial sanctions. The league’s last major cap circumvention case involved the Minnesota Timberwolves and Joe Smith in 2000.
The controversy has drawn attention not only to Leonard’s earnings but also to broader concerns about endorsement deals affecting player movement. The Clippers maintain that the Aspiration deal had no influence on Leonard’s NBA contract or team choice.
Pablo Torre also revealed that as Aspiration’s financial situation deteriorated, Leonard’s priority status stood out, with staff attending to him as a top client while other obligations went unpaid.
The investigation’s outcome is expected to set a precedent for how the NBA handles endorsements, player influence, and potential salary cap circumvention in the future.
