The NBA’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers over his deal with Aspiration is expected to conclude after this weekend’s All-Star Game, Joe Vardon and Mike Vorkunov reported for The Athletic. Leonard signed a $28 million contract with the now-bankrupt fintech company in April 2022 through his limited liability company, KL2 Aspire LLC, established in November 2021.
Aspiration reportedly faced financial trouble by December 2022, prompting Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong to inject $2 million, which allowed the company to pay Leonard $1.75 million, covering his quarterly contract payments. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer later invested an additional $10 million during a fundraising round, with Wong as the only new investor, according to The Athletic.
The law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is conducting an independent probe into Leonard’s contract. Sources told Vardon and Vorkunov that the investigation has focused on Leonard, his uncle and business manager Dennis Robertson, Aspiration’s internal operations, and the Clippers organization. One former Aspiration employee described the questioning as “too pointed,” while noting Ballmer was not directly interviewed.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will review Wachtell’s findings before determining whether penalties are warranted. Any action could involve fines, draft pick losses, suspension of team officials, or voiding Leonard’s contract. The league’s 29 other teams are reportedly closely monitoring the situation, alongside public interest in Ballmer’s involvement.
Leonard, 34, is in the second year of a three-year, $149.5 million contract. He has averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game over 41 appearances this season, leading the Clippers’ 26-28 record in the Western Conference.
Ballmer, the NBA’s wealthiest owner, has emphasized he was misled by Aspiration, which received $60 million from him over multiple investments. Leonard has denied any wrongdoing and confirmed he was not fully paid, telling The Athletic, “Uh, no. But the company went belly up. It was fraud, as everybody knows.”
The timing of the report’s expected release coincides with the NBA All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome, Ballmer’s $2 billion arena in Los Angeles. The league’s broader interest lies in whether the contract breached salary cap rules and if the Clippers gained improper financial advantage.
League sources indicate Wachtell’s prior work with the NBA over two decades could shape the outcome, as the firm evaluates both contractual details and organizational conduct. The decision following the All-Star Game will likely have significant implications for Leonard, the Clippers’ management, and future league investigations.
