Steve Ballmer appears at the opening night of the Intuit Dome arena Aug. 15, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (Image via Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) What could have been – but the Los Angeles Clippers must be taking a big sigh of relief now that it didn’t. The team, back in 2021, when the $300 million deal with Aspirations was signed almost came close to granting naming rights for its Inglewood arena to the company. Thankfully, it never happened and the deal too was cancelled, in less than two years. In light of the latest reports about the Clippers alleged salary cap circumvention controversy, this would have just been used as another nail in the coffin to close this case shut for good.
Steve Ballmer almost gave Aspiration naming rights for Los Angeles Clippers home arena
The Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer signed a $300 million deal with the eco-friendly fintech company, Aspiration, and the team back in 2021. And in keeping with the same, he also granted the company naming rights to the Clippers home arena. But that didn’t happen, and instead, that opportunity was given to financial services firm Intuit, who reportedly paid $500 million, over 23 years, for the naming rights. The Inglewood arena, which was opened in August of 2024, is now known to all as the Inuit Dome. It includes an 18,000-seat arena with the largest video halo board in the league. Had the rights been given to Aspiration, things would have looked much more grim in the Clippers board room, especially with all the recent reports of alleged salary cap circumvention by the team. Though allegations of the team and Ballmer using Aspiration as a means to pay players like Kawhi Leonard extra money have been denied, this could have been disastrous for them.
Gilbert Arenas almost predicted an under the table hand back in January
This whole situation surrounding the Los Angeles Clippers, Steve, and of course, Kawhi Leonard has gripped the attention of everyone. The NBA has even launched an investigation on the matter after the report by Pablo Torre was made public. But NBA veteran Gilbert Arenas, who now runs his own podcast show Gil’s Arena, had almost predicted a similar situation back in January of 2025.“If I’m Ballmer, I don’t give a f— what that salary cap is. I don’t care what it says, I am cheating it. I got too much money to be on the same playing field with you broke a– n—as. We’re not in the same convo, sir.”He further added:“You want $50 million? I’m gonna give you $5 million on the books because I gotta afford somebody else — $5 million on the books, $45 million under the table, behind the scenes. Don’t even worry about it. I got you. You got a foundation? I got that. You got business deals? I got that. You want a percentage in what? I got that. Just go on ahead and sign that contract.”While Ballmer is very adamant about having done the “right thing” and following the rules that the NBA has set for everyone, it doesn’t look like people believe him. Like Arenas had said, under the table transactions are not the biggest surprise, especially for someone like Ballmer, who has a lot of money, even if he can’t show it in the books.Also Read: Los Angeles clippers owner Steve Ballmer denies any involvement with Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration deal