NBA Investigates $28M ‘Aspiration’ Scandal Triggered by Kawhi Leonard’s Bobblehead

The NBA has launched an investigation into possible financial misconduct. This stems from a bobblehead of Kawhi Leonard’s association with Aspiration, a company supported by Los Angeles Clippers owner, Steve Ballmer. Ballmer vehemently denies any wrongdoing and states that the Clippers only played a role in introducing Leonard to Aspiration and were unaware of the alleged $28 million “no-show” endorsement deal.

A detail on a Kawhi Leonard bobblehead tied to Aspiration has spurred an investigation into potential finance misconduct. During the 2022-23 season, the Clippers released four bobbleheads tied to a player and a sponsor. Among them was a Leonard bobblehead linked to Aspiration, a now-defunct sustainability company. A $50 million investment from Ballmer supported this company, which the Clippers claim they were not affiliated with its deal.

There have already been concerns raised about this issue. Journalist Joey Linn pointed out the murky implications, stating that if true, having only Leonard’s bobblehead carrying Aspiration branding would imply the Clippers were indeed involved in some way.

While the team denies any misconduct, there is speculation that the choice of Aspiration for Leonard’s bobblehead may have been deliberate as it contradicts the Clipper’s claims. Ballmer maintains his innocence stating that neither he nor the team violated salary-cap rules and that they were unaware of any misconduct by Aspiration or its co-founder until the investigation.

A report from Pablo Torre claims that Leonard received a $28 million “no-show” endorsement deal from Aspiration between 2022 and 2025, plus an additional $20 million in stock payments. Ballmer immediately addressed these allegations in an interview, clarifying his position and investment in Aspiration.

Ballmer insists that he held no controlling interest in Aspiration and labelled the company as fraudulent. He further explained that the Clippers merely played a role in introducing Leonard to Aspiration, and while they learned of their deal later, no details were known. He called Aspiration unreliable and expressed shame, saying that “they conned me”.