Mark Cuban Defends Steve Ballmer as NBA Scrutinizes Kawhi Leonard’s $28 Million Aspiration Deal
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Former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he believes Los Angeles Clippers governor Steve Ballmer had no role in the disputed $28 million endorsement agreement between Kawhi Leonard and the failed financial firm Aspiration.
Cuban offered his view during an appearance on journalist Pablo Torre’s show, where Torre detailed Leonard’s alleged “no-show” contract with the company. “If your reporting is right and Steve Ballmer knew, then it’s over,” Cuban said, adding that such misconduct would be “far worse than Joe Smith.” He emphasized, however, that accusations alone do not prove Ballmer was involved.
Ballmer has maintained that his only connection was introducing Leonard to Aspiration executives in November 2021. Speaking to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Ballmer said, “I made the introduction. That was it. … They did their deal on their own. We weren’t involved.”
Cuban argued that any deliberate salary-cap circumvention would have endangered multiple careers within the Clippers’ front office. “If Steve Ballmer did tell Lawrence Frank and the assistant GMs, they’re toast too,” he said. He also warned that Leonard’s agent and Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, could face serious consequences if wrongdoing is proven.
The billionaire entrepreneur noted that Aspiration’s separate $300 million arena sponsorship with the Clippers in 2021 required NBA review, making a covert payoff unlikely. Cuban added that once federal regulators began probing Aspiration in 2024, he is “guaranteed” the league took a closer look. “The NBA would have found it easily,” he said.
Ballmer has claimed he, too, was misled by the company. “They conned me,” he told Shelburne, describing himself as an investor who thought the business was legitimate.
While acknowledging that “everybody’s scammable,” Cuban reiterated that the circumstances make it improbable Ballmer orchestrated an illicit scheme. “I just don’t see that happening,” he said.
Source: Hoops Wire
