Kawhi Leonard controversy: Did Clippers star get $28 million in hidden 'no-job' show? What we know

The Los Angeles Clippers are at the centre of a massive controversy once again after a report alleged that NBA superstar Kawhi Leonard signed a fraudulent $28 million endorsement deal with owner Steve Ballmer. Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers have been accused in a scandal connected with an alleged fraudulent tree-planting company.

It was in 2019 when Kawhi Leonard joined the Los Angeles after he won the NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. A shocking report has now come to light which shows Leonard signed an endorsement deal with a fraudulent tree-planting company, which was apparently funded by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.

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Kawhi Leonard accused of getting $28 million in secret deal

The report came from Pablo Torre, who said that back in 2019, NBA executives were curious about how the Clippers landed Leonard following his Finals MVP run with the Toronto Raptors. "The NBA did not find that the Clippers got Kawhi by sweetening their offer," Torre said.


However, Torre mentioned a 3,487-page document that revealed the San Diego State alum agreed to a different deal under the table. Torre claimed Leonard signed a $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration, an alleged fraudulent tree-planting company. The company was reportedly funded by $50 million from Ballmer.

In March 2025, the celebrity-backed multi-billion-dollar firm Aspiration—once touted as an eco-friendly tree-planting company—filed for bankruptcy, according to Pablo Torre on his podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out. The collapse quickly unraveled into allegations of fraud, but what really caught attention was a curious entry in the creditor list. Among those owed money, Aspiration reportedly has a $7 million debt to KL2 Aspire LLC—a company where NBA star Kawhi Leonard is listed as manager and member.

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So, this basically means Kawhi Leonard allegedly signed a $28 million “no-show job” endorsement deal with the fraudulent company, a company that was also allegedly funded by $50 million from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. According to sources, it was done “to circumvent the salary cap,” and KL did not have to do any endorsement or show up anywhere for Aspiration.

The Clippers quickly issued a statement denying Torre’s report, saying the organization and Ballmer “have done nothing to evade the salary cap or act improperly with Aspiration,” the company at the center of the allegations.

Pablo Torre verified his discovery?

Documents obtained by Torre show a bankruptcy filing with a list of creditors and entities, which included "KL2 Aspire LLC" in Moreno Valley. Leonard is often referred to as "KL2" in reference to his initials and jersey number. "Every other celebrity Aspiration gave money to was well known," Torre said, referencing Drake and Robert Downey Jr. "But the grand total number of times that I found Kawhi Leonard publicly referencing Aspiration: zero times."

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Torre spoke to former Aspiration employees to support his claims. He received a handful of replies, and one claimed that Kawhi Leonard had essentially inked a ghost contract—a move many now believe played a major role in his decision to join the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019.

An inside source said the "no-show job" was a way for Ballmer to circumvent the salary cap. In January 2024, the Clippers went all-in on the superstar. Leonard and the Clippers agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $153 million.

The NBA has yet to respond to the allegations. If proven true, the Clippers would be in violation of league policy. Under the terms of the NBA collective bargaining agreement, the Clippers could be fined up to $4.5m for a first offense if they attempted to circumvent the salary cap. They could also be docked a first-round draft pick.