Ex-Aspiration CEO Rejects Allegation of No-Show Contract for Kawhi Leonard
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Former Aspiration chief executive Andrei Cherny said Friday that Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard never received a “no-show” endorsement deal from the now-bankrupt financial firm, countering recent claims that the agreement was designed to skirt NBA salary-cap rules.
In a statement posted on X, Cherny—who stepped down from Aspiration in 2022—wrote that the 2022 contract with Leonard included “three pages of extensive obligations” and allowed the company to cancel the deal if those duties were not fulfilled. “I don’t remember conversations about the NBA salary cap,” he added, noting that he signed the agreement shortly before submitting his resignation.
The podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” reported last week that Aspiration agreed to pay Leonard $28 million over four years. According to the podcast, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration through his personal LLC in September 2021, and the team announced a $300 million partnership with the firm two weeks later. An unnamed former employee told Torre the payment to Leonard was intended to bypass league spending limits.
Torre also reported Thursday that Clippers limited partner Dennis J. Wong put $1.99 million into Aspiration in 2022, nine days before the company issued a $1.75 million payment to Leonard. The Athletic said Friday that Ballmer invested another $10 million during a 2023 fundraising round.
The NBA has opened an investigation into whether Ballmer or the Clippers violated league rules. The franchise has denied any wrongdoing, and Ballmer has said he had no knowledge of Leonard’s endorsement contract or any role in arranging it.
Aspiration filed for bankruptcy in 2025. Co-founder Joe Sanberg pleaded guilty last month to two counts of wire fraud for defrauding investors and lenders of more than $248 million.
Source: ESPN
