Kawhi Leonard, Image via Getty Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has been in the headlines ever since his controversial endorsement agreement with the failed Aspiration, an environmental start-up came into the light. This had been a significant debate in the NBA world in recent memory. Now, a new report has alleged that Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong is also involved in the entire situation.
LA Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong’s alleged involvement in the Kawhi Leonard endorsement deal
According to news journalist Pablo Torre, based on the documents he obtained, it has been alleged that LA Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong, who owns a 1% stake, was involved in Kawhi Leonard’s $28 million fraudulent deal with Aspiration. In the aforementioned documents, it has been stated that Wong invested roughly $2 million in Aspiration, which paid the NBA star millions while “circumventing the NBA salary cap,” as Pablo mentioned earlier.Dennus Wong reportedly infused capital into the company on Dec. 6, 2022. According to Pablo Torre, Wong made the investment when they were low on runway and were running out of money in the bank. Surprisingly, Kawhi Leonard was paid his quarterly earnings of $1.75 million by Aspiration as part of the deal, the same day 20% of the employees from the company were let go.
Kawhi Leonard’s endorsement deal began in April 2022
Kawhi Leonard’s endorsement deal was worth $28 million. The four-year deal was inked in April 2022, and the LA Clippers player was paid quarterly payments of $1.75 million, bringing his annual earnings to a total of $7 million. In the aforementioned documents obtained by Pablo Torre, Dennis Wong invested the $2 million after Aspiration failed to make a payment to Leonard in the fall of 2022.Wong’s actions have become the centre of the debate, leading many to wonder about his motives for investing a huge sum of money into a company on the verge of bankruptcy. Moreover, this has also been Pablo Torre’s intention, and to get answers, he even reached out to the LA Clippers and Wong. However, they chose not to give any comments. With the situation under the radar, it remains to be seen what is next for the NBA team and the people involved in the controversy.Also read: “I don’t have the luxury”: Dwyane Wade’s wife Gabrielle Union opens up about her father’s hospital bills