INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Kawhi Leonard addressed the swirling controversy surrounding an NBA investigation into his endorsement deal at Clippers media day Monday, denying any wrongdoing and insisting he has nothing to hide.
The league is looking into allegations that Leonard and the Clippers may have violated salary cap rules through his arrangement with Aspiration, a sustainability company that has since filed for bankruptcy. Reports alleged the deal was a “no-show” contract designed to funnel additional money to Leonard outside of his Clippers salary.
Leonard dismissed those claims, saying he fulfilled his obligations under the contract. “I understand the full contract and the services that I had to do,” he told reporters. “I don’t deal with conspiracies or the clickbait analysts or journalism that’s going on.”
When pressed on whether he actually performed services for Aspiration, Leonard reiterated, “I don’t think it’s accurate” to suggest he didn’t. He added that Aspiration still owed him more than $7 million as part of its bankruptcy filing, evidence, he said, that the company did not pay out the full value of his agreement.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP welcomed the NBA’s inquiry, saying he believes it will clear him and the franchise. “The NBA is going to do their job. None of us did no wrongdoing. And that’s it. It’s not going to be a distraction for me or the rest of the team,” Leonard said.
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank also read a statement expressing disappointment with the allegations, emphasizing the team would cooperate fully and expected the process to exonerate both the player and the organization. Owner Steve Ballmer has also pushed back against reports linking his $50 million investment in Aspiration to Leonard’s contract, saying any implication of impropriety is false.
The league has retained outside counsel to lead the investigation, and the timing of payments connected to the deal has raised questions about whether they were tied to Leonard’s contract extension with the team. For now, the Clippers are attempting to move forward with training camp while the probe unfolds.
Leonard, entering his sixth season in Los Angeles, said his focus remains on preparing for the year ahead. With the Clippers facing another pivotal season, he hopes the off-court scrutiny will not overshadow the team’s championship aspirations.