Nearly a year later, the NBA still hasn’t reached decision on Kawhi Leonard investigation

The NBA is approaching the one-year mark of its investigation into Kawhi Leonard’s endorsement deal with Aspiration, and the league has yet to announce its findings. 

Leonard has remained eligible to play throughout the investigation, but the unresolved case has created uncertainty surrounding both his future and the Los Angeles Clippers’ plans. A reported trade that would have sent Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors remains on hold while the investigation continues. 

As the investigation enters its 11th month, questions remain about when the NBA will reach a decision and what the outcome could mean for Leonard’s future.

Clippers' involvement with Aspiration

Aspiration is a sustainability-focused financial technology company that helped businesses purchase carbon credits and fund environmental projects. Before Leonard joined the Clippers, owner Steve Ballmer invested more than $50 million in Aspiration, which later became a team sponsor. After signing a four-year, $176 million contract with Los Angeles in 2021, Leonard entered into a reported endorsement agreement with Aspiration worth around $48 million. 

The endorsement later came into question after reports alleged Leonard did not fulfill the work requirements outlined in the agreement, raising concerns about the nature of the deal. As Aspiration’s financial condition worsened, Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong reportedly provided additional funding to the company. A few months later, Ballmer also reportedly provided financial support to the company. Aspiration has since filed for bankruptcy.

NBA investigation into Kawhi Leonard’s endorsement deal 

The NBA launched its investigation in September 2025 and hired Wachtell Lipton to examine allegations that the Clippers used Leonard’s Aspiration endorsement deal to circumvent the league’s salary cap rules. The investigation has since expanded to include whether the Clippers improperly covered expenses for Leonard and whether he had another undisclosed endorsement deal, The Athletic reported. 

If the league determines the Clippers violated NBA salary cap rules, possible penalties could include fines, the loss of draft picks or action involving Leonard’s contract.

Silver addressed the reported trade involving Leonard:

"The league did not pause the trade," Silver said. "The parties to the trade made a decision not to go forward, given that the investigation remained open. Any possible impact on Kawhi or his contract was yet to be known. They chose not to live with that uncertainty. That was well known before the trade was proposed. I don't think there's any reason for people to believe that the status of Kawhi Leonard would change merely because he was traded."

Clippers respond to the investigation 

Ballmer has denied any wrongdoing and said he welcomes the league’s investigation. He addressed the investigation in an interview with the Sports Business Journal, saying:

“This is not a fun thing to be through," Ballmer said. "I was personally defrauded through our interactions with the company and some of the staff. The fraud sort of extended broadly. Through that, we had many relationships with the company -- sponsor, activation, [it] was through carbon credits, all a bunch of complicated stuff. But the important thing is, our relationship with the company and our player’s relationship with the company were independent, which is important under the rules of the NBA. I feel quite confident in that, that we abided [by] the rules. So, I welcome the investigation that the NBA is doing. It’s a great way, from our perspective, to get the facts out there.”

What’s next?

Nearly one year after opening the investigation, the NBA has yet to announce its findings.

Silver  acknowledged the lengthy investigation on Tuesday, saying:

"This [investigation] needs to be wrapped up before the beginning of next season," Silver said while addressing reporters after a meeting of the NBA's board of governors. "It's going on longer than I would have hoped, there's no question about that."

With training camp approaching in a few months and the reported trade still in limbo, the NBA has yet to announce whether Leonard’s endorsement agreement violated league rules. Until the investigation concludes, uncertainty surrounding Leonard, the Clippers and the Raptors is likely to continue.