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NBA investigates Kawhi Leonard over fake role with tree-planting service

Originally posted on Ball Exclusives | By Titan Frey | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 2:36 AM ET

Kawhi Leonard has found himself in some trouble. He reportedly was being paid $28 million for a fake role with Aspiration, a tree-planting service.

Leonard isn’t the only one who is in hot water. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is the one who owns Aspiration and is the one who paid Leonard the $28 million off the Clippers’ payroll.

BREAKING: Sports investigator Pablo Torre drops a bombshell report: Kawhi Leonard reportedly signed a $28M endorsement with a fraudulent tree-planting company, funded by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer "to circumvent the salary cap rules".

Shocking development. pic.twitter.com/C9kykk59LF

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 3, 2025

Ballmer did this as a way to give his star player more money without going over the salary cap. Naturally, this is against the rules in the NBA and has sparked an investigation.

As this story continues to unfold, we have discovered more signs of Leonard’s ways to earn more money off the books. Reportedly, when Leonard was deciding on free agency while being a member of the Toronto Raptors, Leonard asked Raptors owner Larry Tanenbaum for an extra $15 million in endorsement money.

Kawhi Leonard reportedly asked Toronto’s owner Larry Tanenbaum to line up an extra $15M in endorsements when deciding his free agency, per @Gambo987 pic.twitter.com/JDtapeGirb

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 3, 2025