TITLE: Steve Ballmer Says Aspiration “Personally Defrauded” Him Amid NBA Probe
SLUG: steve-ballmer-says-aspiration-personally-defrauded-him
CONTENT:
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer claims he was “personally defrauded” during his dealings with the bankrupt green-finance firm Aspiration, the same company that paid forward Kawhi Leonard tens of millions of dollars now under league scrutiny.
“This is not a fun thing to be through,” Ballmer told Sports Business Journal executive editor Abe Madkour. “I was personally defrauded through our interactions with the company and some of the staff. The fraud sort of extended broadly.”
Ballmer added that the Clippers’ sponsorship with Aspiration and Leonard’s separate agreement were handled independently, which he said keeps the club in compliance with NBA salary-cap rules. “I welcome the investigation that the NBA is doing. It’s a great way, from our perspective, to get the facts out there,” he said.
Payments to Leonard
Reporting by the podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” indicates Leonard received $48 million from Aspiration for what sources described as a no-show role, raising questions about possible cap circumvention.
Key timeline:
- November 2021 – Ballmer introduced Leonard to Aspiration executives, a few months after the forward signed a four-year, $173 million extension with the Clippers.
- That same period – The franchise announced a $300 million sponsorship deal with the company.
- December 2022 – Aspiration paid Leonard $1.7 million shortly after Clippers minority owner Dennis J. Wong invested nearly $2 million in the firm.
- Leonard also received $20 million in stock directly from co-founder Joe Sanberg.
Ballmer’s Investments
Ballmer said he put $50 million into Aspiration in 2021 and another $10 million in 2023, even as the business was losing money and reducing staff.
What’s Next
The Clippers, who have never reached the NBA Finals, now face an NBA investigation that could carry severe penalties if rule violations are confirmed. Leonard’s contract runs through the 2026-27 season, with salaries just over $50 million in each of the next two years before he can enter unrestricted free agency in 2027.
Source: Hoops Wire
