The Los Angeles Clippers are under the microscope after claims emerged that the team may have made secret payments totaling $28 million to All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard.
The allegations, which suggest an effort to bypass the NBA salary cap, have prompted the league to launch a formal investigation.
The Claims Surface Through Bankruptcy Filings
Podcaster Pablo Torre brought the issue to public attention this week, citing a 2025 bankruptcy filing for Aspiration QFZ, LLC.
The filing lists both the Clippers and Leonard’s company, KL2 Aspire LLC, among the creditors.
Aspiration QFZ was a subsidiary of the fintech brand Aspiration Partners Inc., which received a $315 million investment in 2021 from affiliates of Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Oaktree Capital Management.
The filing obtained by the Daily Mail shows unsecured claims of $30 million for the Clippers and $7 million for KL2 Aspire.
Torre also says he has contracts pointing to a $28 million deal between Aspiration QFZ and Leonard’s company, although no evidence suggests Leonard actually performed any work for Aspiration QFZ.
Alleged No-Show Work Sparks Questions
On Torre’s podcast, an anonymous source confirmed that Leonard could have been paid for a “no-show” arrangement, though the contracts reportedly allowed him to decline any tasks requested by the company.
The payments were allegedly routed through Leonard’s uncle and advisor, Dennis Robertson, who has been previously investigated by the NBA in 2019 for possible impermissible benefits.
That investigation found no wrongdoing at the time.
Past Lawsuits and Allegations
The Clippers have faced similar claims in the past. In 2020, Johnny Wilkes, a self-described acquaintance of Leonard and Robertson, sued the team claiming he was owed $2.5 million for helping secure Leonard’s signing.
He alleged extravagant promises from Ballmer, including a massive marketing campaign and a house for Robertson.
That lawsuit was dismissed without any admission of wrongdoing.
Clippers Deny Wrongdoing
In response to the latest allegations, the Clippers released a statement denying any misconduct.
The team emphasized that it ended its relationship with Aspiration years ago after the company defaulted on obligations, and insisted that neither the Clippers nor Ballmer were aware of any illegal activity by Aspiration or its founder Joseph Sanberg.
Sanberg recently pleaded guilty in a federal court case related to a $248 million investor fraud scheme, unrelated to the Clippers’ dealings.
The team said it is ready to cooperate with law enforcement as needed.
Environmental Partnerships and Ongoing Contracts
The Clippers had partnered with Aspiration Partners in 2021 on environmental initiatives at their new stadium, the Intuit Dome.
Aspiration, now known as GreenFi following a 2024 acquisition, continues to supply carbon credits to the team as part of long-term climate-action agreements.
NBA’s Historical Approach to Salary Cap Circumvention
The NBA has a strict history of enforcing salary cap rules.
Commissioner Adam Silver has repeatedly stressed that circumventing the cap is a “cardinal sin.”
Previous violations, like the Timberwolves’ scheme with Joe Smith in 2000, led to heavy penalties, including draft pick forfeitures and sanctions on team management.
Next Steps
The NBA has confirmed it is investigating the Clippers’ alleged payments to Leonard.
The league has promised to reopen cases if evidence of improper benefits emerges, highlighting how seriously the NBA treats potential salary cap violations.
Meanwhile, Leonard’s representatives and Aspiration QFZ’s legal contacts have yet to comment.