Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested an additional $10 million in Aspiration in March 2023, according to NBA reporter Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.
Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration 18 months before that.
According to Pablo Torre of Pablo Torre Finds Out, Aspiration paid Clippers star Kawhi Leonard $48 million for a “no-show job” intended to circumvent the NBA salary cap.
Ballmer introduced Aspiration to Leonard in November 2021, three months after the Clippers had agreed to a four-year, $173 million extension with Leonard. Two months earlier, in September 2021, the Clippers announced a lucrative $300 million partnership with Aspiration.
Aspiration paid Leonard $1.7 million days after Clippers minority owner Dennis J. Wong made an almost $2 million investment in the company, per Torre. This took place in December 2022. Leonard also got $20 million in Aspiration shares directly from co-founder Joe Sanberg.
A future Hall of Famer, Leonard signed with the Clippers in 2019. LAC has never made the NBA Finals in franchise history.
Leonard and the Clippers had a 3-1 lead against the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2020 playoffs. LAC blew the lead and lost the series in seven games.
Leonard tore his right ACL against the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2021 playoffs. The Clippers beat the Jazz but lost to the Phoenix Suns in the conference finals without Leonard.
Leonard missed the entire 2021-22 season due to his ACL injury. Without him, the Clippers missed the 2022 playoffs.
One of the best two-way players in the NBA, Leonard played in 52 games for the Clippers in the 2022-23 season. He suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee in the first round of the 2023 playoffs against the Suns and LAC lost the series.
Leonard appeared in 68 games for the Clippers in 2023-24 and made the All-NBA Second Team. However, his surgically repaired right knee troubled him in the first round of the 2024 playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks and he only played in Games 2 and 3.
A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Leonard played in 37 games for the Clippers last season. LAC lost to Denver in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in seven games.
Steve Ballmer and the Clippers have denied that they have broken any rules. The NBA is currently investigating this matter.