Steve Ballmer Calls for NBA Investigation into Clippers’ Financial Practices
Steve Ballmer, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, has urged the NBA to scrutinize its financial regulations following allegations of a franchise attempting to sidestep the league’s salary cap restrictions. He expressed his hopes for a thorough investigation, stating, “I want them to take it seriously. The evasion rules for pay caps are important to the league, and I would like the league to investigate,” in comments made to ESPN on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the NBA acknowledged that it was already looking into the matter, referencing a media report pertaining to the Clippers. NBA spokesman Mike Bass confirmed the initiation of this investigation.
Amid the media fallout, Ballmer conveyed feelings of “embarrassment” and “sadness” regarding allegations made by sports commentator Pablo Torre. He strongly asserted, “We did things with books,” suggesting previous financial practices may have been questioned.
Reports indicate that the Clippers entered a questionable contract with Aspiration Partners Inc., which purportedly involved a payment of $28 million related to player Kawhi Leonard. The company, a financial services provider that labeled itself “green,” has since declared bankruptcy.
Aspiration’s branding had graced the Clippers’ jerseys following a $300 million sponsorship deal struck in 2021, in which Ballmer was also a key investor.
Ballmer stated he was unaware of the specifics of the contract when it was entered into. He explained that while he was involved in introducing Leonard to Aspiration, he believed they maintained proper distancing from the deal’s approval process. “Under the rules, we can refer our sponsors to athletes. We cannot be involved,” he clarified.
The allegations surrounding this contract come at a time when Leonard was under a lucrative four-year extension reportedly worth $173 million. Ballmer mentioned that Leonard wasn’t introduced to the business relationship until November of the following year.
In light of the ongoing inquiries, Ballmer noted that the Department of Justice is also looking into the interactions between the team and Aspiration, particularly after Joe Samberg, a co-founder of Aspiration, pled guilty to wire fraud charges.
Ballmer reflected, “These were people who committed fraud. I thought it was legitimate at the time, but it seems clear now.”
This isn’t the first instance of scrutiny surrounding Leonard and his contract dealings. Back in 2019, claims emerged that his representatives were making inappropriate demands during free agency negotiations. Past controversies also involved lawsuits alleging dubious arrangements, though those did not result in penalties for the team.
When asked about Leonard’s character and the ongoing discrepancies, Ballmer suggested there might be a lot of unknowns surrounding him, stating, “I’ve come to know him a bit,” but added, “there are a lot of mysteries around Kawhi.” Leonard has struggled with injuries, appearing in only 37 games during the 2024-25 season.
