NBA Launches Investigation into Kawhi Leonard's Clippers Endorsement Deal

The NBA has initiated an investigation into Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard's endorsement deal with former team sponsor Aspiration, hiring the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz on September 6, 2025. The probe aims to determine if the Clippers circumvented the salary cap through what is alleged to be a "no-show" $28 million endorsement contract Leonard signed in September 2021. Aspiration, a company Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had invested in, later faced federal investigation for fraud and filed for bankruptcy. While the Clippers and Ballmer vehemently deny the allegations, claiming they were "duped," the league's collective bargaining agreement outlines potential penalties including significant fines, draft pick forfeiture, or even the voiding of a player's contract.