Former Aspiration CEO Rejects ‘No-Show’ Characterization of Kawhi Leonard Endorsement
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Andrei Cherny, who led the environmental finance firm Aspiration until 2022, said claims that Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard signed a “no-show” endorsement contract with the company are incorrect.
In comments shared by The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov and in a separate statement posted online, Cherny argued that Leonard’s $28 million agreement contained “three pages of extensive obligations” and provided Aspiration with the right to cancel the deal if those requirements were not met.
“The belief that the contract with Kawhi Leonard was a no-show contract is false,” Cherny wrote, adding that a “beliefs provision” in the paperwork simply protected Leonard from being forced to do something contrary to his personal values. “It doesn’t mean you can have a belief of not talking to the camera,” he said.
Controversy over the arrangement surfaced on Sept. 3, when journalist Pablo Torre reported that Leonard never performed any promotional work for the company despite the $28 million commitment, and that he had a separate side agreement valued at $20 million in stock. The report fueled speculation that Aspiration was used to direct money to Leonard outside NBA salary-cap rules.
The league has since retained an outside law firm to investigate the matter. Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters this week that any discipline would require clear evidence of misconduct.
Cherny, who stepped down from Aspiration last year, said marketing plans featuring Leonard were in place before his departure. He also blamed co-founder Joe Sanberg—arrested earlier this year on investor-fraud charges—for the company’s financial collapse.
Three former Aspiration executives dispute Cherny’s version. In a letter to Torre, they said the endorsement was presented as completed and received Cherny’s sign-off despite objections from senior leadership, describing the agreement as hard to justify and ultimately detrimental to the firm.
The NBA’s inquiry into Leonard’s arrangement with Aspiration and any potential involvement by the Clippers remains active.
Source: Hoops Wire
