Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer spoke out again Tuesday regarding claims that his franchise used a phony endorsement deal to circumvent salary cap rules to funnel money to Kawhi Leonard.
Ballmer took part in a Sports Business Journal event in Los Angeles on Tuesday when he was inevitably asked about the NBA investigation into the allegations. The Clippers owner accepted an opportunity to discuss the claims, and reasserted that he had been defrauded and that the franchise acted within the NBA’s rules.
“I welcome the investigation that the NBA is doing. It’s a great way, from our perspective, to get the facts out there,” Ballmer said. “This too shall pass.”
"This too shall pass." — Steve Ballmer
— Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) September 16, 2025
Speaking live from our Drive event in LA, Ballmer responded to a question about the NBA's investigation into the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard. pic.twitter.com/KDmXLrPJjk
The allegations claim Leonard had a phony endorsement deal with a tree-planting company called Aspiration that Ballmer heavily invested in. Leonard made millions from the deal despite doing no promotional work for the company.
Ballmer has maintained that he was defrauded by Aspiration, and that any deals the company made were independent of the franchise. New evidence has cast further doubt on that claim.
Ballmer is adamant, at least publicly, that the Clippers will be exonerated. His franchise could face serious consequences if they are not.
