Overview

• The league reviewed and cleared the Clippers’ 23-year, $300 million sponsorship in 2021 because it included a jersey patch and broadcast-visible signage, ESPN reports.
• Official NBA materials require teams to obtain approval for jersey patches, while most other team sponsorships are not reviewed by the league.
• In April 2022, Aspiration struck a separate four-year endorsement with Kawhi Leonard worth about $28 million that was outside league review under the CBA.
• The NBA retained Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to examine possible salary-cap circumvention, with a process that could run into 2026 and may go to a neutral arbitrator.
• Steve Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration in 2021, says he was conned and is cooperating with federal authorities, as the firm later went bankrupt owing the Clippers about $30 million and its co-founder pleaded guilty to wire fraud.