LOS ANGELES, CA. — Pablo Torre spent his summer uncovering more than beach secrets. On his podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out, he revealed troubling details about Kawhi Leonard’s financial ties to a now-bankrupt company. His reporting suggests that Leonard’s $28 million payday from Aspiration, a company backed by Steve Ballmer, may have been an attempt to skirt NBA salary cap rules.
Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard And Steve Ballmer Implicated In $28 Million Scandal
The Aspiration Connection
Aspiration branded itself as a “tree brokerage.” The company filed for bankruptcy in March 2025. Bankruptcy documents revealed that one of its creditors was KL2 Aspire LLC—an entity tied to Leonard. The filing showed KL2 was owed $7 million. The initials “KL2” appear to connect directly to Leonard and his jersey number.
Torre reported that Leonard himself was paid $28 million by Aspiration for an endorsement deal. Other stars like Drake, Leonardo Di Caprio, Robert Downey Jr. and even Doc Rivers also lent their names. The difference? Leonard’s name never appeared in any meaningful campaign.
“He Didn’t Have to Do Anything”
Torre interviewed a former Aspiration employee, who claimed the arrangement had little to do with marketing. Instead, it allegedly functioned as a loophole for extra income while Leonard wore a Clippers jersey.
“It was to circumvent the salary cap ‘lol,’” the employee said. “The single largest payment to an individual for marketing that Aspiration ever made has completely evaded all press. … He didn’t have to do anything.”
The payments were reportedly distributed quarterly, stretching across four years.
A Contract Clause Raises Eyebrows
Documents reviewed by Torre shed further light. One highlighted section states: “For avoidance of doubt, if Leonard is still being paid by the Team but is a member of another NBA organization or has retired, either of those instances shall qualify as a triggering event for termination by Company.”
That language suggests that the payments tied directly to Leonard’s Clippers employment. In short, the deal existed because of his status with Los Angeles.
Ballmer’s Money Trail
Ballmer’s role adds another wrinkle. Reports show he injected roughly $50 million into Aspiration, bolstering the firm before its collapse. Around the same time, a $300 million sponsorship deal between Aspiration and the Clippers’ Intuit Dome was announced. The alignment raised suspicions that Leonard’s secret endorsement flowed from Ballmer’s investment.
Environmental Promises in Question
Aspiration sold itself as a green pioneer. It boasted of planting millions of trees. Yet investigators found evidence of only a single site visit to a tree-planting project. The company’s environmental claims now look hollow.
Criminal Fallout
Aspiration’s co-founder, Joe Sandberg, was arrested in March 2025. Prosecutors accuse him of defrauding investors of at least $145 million. Multiple agencies—the DOJ, FBI, CFTC, and SEC—have opened investigations. The scandal extends well beyond basketball.
Denials and Next Steps
The Clippers issued a firm denial, stating neither the team nor Ballmer engaged in attempts to circumvent the salary cap. Still, the whispers surrounding Kawhi Leonard’s $28 million scandal have grown louder.
The NBA and Adam Silver will likely review the matter closely. The league’s office rarely looks the other way when financial dealings threaten competitive balance.
A Scandal That Won’t Fade
Whether the Clippers intended to break rules or not, the optics look grim. Kawhi Leonard’s $28 million scandal now sits at the intersection of sports, business, and regulation. Fans wonder what penalties—if any—will follow.
For now, Torre’s work has cast a long shadow over Leonard’s Los Angeles tenure. This story is far from finished, and more revelations about the scandal seem inevitable.
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