The NBA has disputed an ESPN report released Monday that detailed findings of the league’s investigation into possible salary-cap circumvention by the Los Angeles Clippers involving star forward Kawhi Leonard.
“ESPN’s article regarding the LA Clippers investigation — for which the NBA declined to cooperate — contains numerous and significant inaccuracies,” the NBA said in a statement. “The results in this matter will be made clear once the investigation is concluded.”
ESPN reported the NBA has found
no evidence showing Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Leonard in order to circumvent the salary cap, citing three people with knowledge of discussions between the two sides in recent days. Instead, the report said the NBA investigation is focused on whether the Clippers’ introduction of Leonard to team sponsors constitutes a violation of the league’s rules prohibiting salary cap circumvention.
ESPN also reported the NBA investigation into salary cap circumvention has since expanded beyond Leonard’s $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration, the now-bankrupt green banking company at the center of the allegations, to at least three other companies that also had deals with the Clippers. Additionally, in recent days, the Clippers and the league “have been negotiating a resolution to the investigation,” according to ESPN.
The NBA didn’t specify which parts of the report it is disputing.
The NBA investigation into the situation started in September after a report from the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast alleged the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by secretly paying Leonard through his endorsement deal with Aspiration, for which Leonard did no public marketing work.
The NBA established no formal timeline for a resolution to its investigation, but league commissioner Adam Silver said last month the process needed to conclude before the start of the 2026-27 season. The investigation is holding up a trade that would send Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and draft capital. Both teams are waiting for the investigation to conclude before finalizing the deal.
