The Los Angeles Clippers and team governor Steve Ballmer sent $118 million to Aspiration between September 2021 and March 2023, according to Pablo Torre on The Pablo Torre Finds Out.
Documents reviewed on the show revealed multiple payments from “Team Ballmer,” including the Clippers’ CFO, alternate governor Dennis Wong, and the organization itself. One June 14, 2022, letter on Clippers letterhead approved a $20.9 million withdrawal to fund carbon projects, signed by the team’s chief financial officer.
Sources told Torre that the $21 million payment to Aspiration arrived just two weeks before Kawhi Leonard’s scheduled payout from the company, which at the time was struggling financially. The influx of cash reportedly kept Aspiration afloat and aligned with contractual obligations involving Leonard.
The Clippers later stated that their arena development agreements mandated carbon credit purchases. Team officials added that Ballmer pushed beyond those requirements by seeking additional offsets tied to Aspiration, but eventually halted payments when the company could no longer fulfill its commitments.
Records show that Ballmer himself invested $50 million in Aspiration in 2021 and later added another $10 million in March 2023, even after public filings revealed financial instability. Wong also contributed $2 million personally as Aspiration’s financial position worsened.
Aspiration’s proposed merger with Interprivate III collapsed in December 2022 after 90% of shareholders pulled out, effectively erasing the financial promise of the company. Despite that, new funds from Clippers-linked entities continued to arrive, according to Torre.
The situation has drawn attention from NBA analysts. John Hollinger of The Athletic noted that if payments are found to have circumvented salary cap rules tied to Leonard, the league could issue severe penalties. Potential outcomes include fines, draft pick forfeitures, suspensions, or even the voiding of Leonard’s contract.
Hollinger described the allegations as “beyond the pale” compared to typical violations, warning that the NBA would act decisively if rules were broken. Voiding Leonard’s deal, however, would carry major implications, as it could give the Clippers significant cap flexibility to reshape their roster.
Commissioner Adam Silver has stressed due process as law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz continues to investigate. The Clippers and Ballmer maintain that all actions complied with league rules and deny any link between Aspiration payments and Leonard’s contract.
The investigation remains ongoing, with league insiders divided on the likelihood of severe punishment. Until findings are finalized, the future of Leonard’s deal and the Clippers’ cap situation hangs in the balance.
