The NBA approved a $300 million sponsorship deal between the Clippers and Aspiration in 2021, months before Aspiration signed a separate deal with Kawhi Leonard.
Aspiration filed for bankruptcy in March 2025 after its executives were charged with defrauding investors.
The NBA is investigating whether the $28 million deal between Aspiration and Leonard was designed to circumvent the league's salary cap.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration in September 2021 and claims he was "conned" by the company.
Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud.
The Clippers-Aspiration partnership was initially touted as a socially responsible venture, with Aspiration becoming a "Founding Partner" for the Intuit Dome. However, Aspiration's financial troubles and the subsequent investigation into Leonard's endorsement deal have cast a shadow over the team. The investigation centers on whether the Clippers played a role in arranging Leonard's deal to circumvent salary cap rules. The Aspiration logo was slated to appear on Clippers jerseys, but the deal was terminated after Aspiration faced investigations and ultimately declared bankruptcy. The Clippers maintain they were unaware of any wrongdoing by Aspiration and are cooperating with authorities.
Q: What is the NBA investigating?
The NBA is investigating whether the LA Clippers circumvented salary cap rules through a sponsorship deal with Aspiration and a related endorsement contract with Kawhi Leonard.
Q: What is Aspiration Partners?
Aspiration Partners was a "green" investment firm that filed for bankruptcy after its executives were charged with fraud.
Q: What has Steve Ballmer said about the situation?
Steve Ballmer claims he was "conned" by Aspiration and denies any knowledge of or involvement in circumventing the NBA's salary cap.
The NBA is taking allegations of salary cap circumvention seriously.
Sponsorship deals are subject to league review, particularly those involving jersey patches.
Team owners and players must be cautious when engaging with companies that may be under financial or legal scrutiny.
The investigation could have significant implications for the Clippers organization, depending on the NBA's findings.
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