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NBA not likely to wrap Kawhi Leonard investigation until after All-Star Game, hosted by Clippers

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated Sep 18, 2025 2:29 PM ET

The NBA isn’t expected to reach a resolution on the Kawhi Leonard salary-cap circumvention case until after the 2026 All-Star Game — an event, fittingly enough, hosted by the Clippers.

As Pablo Torre of Pablo Torre Finds Out has reported, bankrupt financial firm Aspiration allegedly paid Leonard $48 million for what amounted to a “no-show job,” a setup designed to skirt the league’s cap rules.

The paper trail is staggering. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer pumped $50 million into Aspiration in 2021, then another $10 million in March 2023.

In the span of just 18 months, “Team Ballmer” — Ballmer, Clippers alternate governor Dennis Wong, the team CFO and the organization itself — funneled $118 million into the company.

The timing of certain payments raises even more eyebrows. On June 14, 2022, the Clippers’ CFO signed off on a $21 million payment to Aspiration to fund “carbon projects.”

According to Torre, that infusion did three things: it covered Leonard’s first $1.7 million payday, helped Aspiration hit a fundraising target, and kept the company afloat.

. https://t.co/4Oq0UlC5a2

— Pablo Torre (@PabloTorre) September 18, 2025

Just two months earlier, the Clippers had made back-to-back prepayments totaling more than $35 million for carbon credits.

The kicker? One of those payments came on the same day Leonard inked his KL2 Aspire contract — worth $28 million.

Leonard also walked away with $20 million in equity shares from Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg, while Wong, Ballmer’s longtime friend and college roommate, wired in nearly $2 million of his own money just before another Leonard payment was due.

The NBA probably should’ve just hired @pablofindsout to lead its investigation.

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) September 18, 2025

Torre even unearthed a text from Leonard’s uncle and representative, Dennis Robertson, pressing Aspiration for action:

“Mike has had the contract for about 14 days now. Haven’t heard back. Thanks — just keeping you informed.”

Torre confirmed the message referred to Leonard’s additional $20 million equity deal.

The league’s ongoing investigation looms large. Possible penalties could include massive fines, the loss of draft picks, suspensions, or even voiding Leonard’s Clippers contract, a move that could make him a free agent and send shockwaves through the NBA.

This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission.

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