NBA Deepens Probe Into Clippers’ Aspiration Ties as Report Says Team Rejected Billion-Dollar Naming Offer

The NBA’s outside counsel is collecting documents, emails and phone records as part of a formal investigation into Aspiration-related payments connected to Kawhi Leonard, according to multiple reports. The Clippers declined an Aspiration bid reportedly worth nearly twice Intuit’s $550 million for arena naming rights, opting for Intuit instead, a detail team sources cite in defending owner Steve Ballmer. Documents reported by Pablo Torre indicate Leonard signed a four-year, $28 million Aspiration endorsement in 2022 with minimal obligations and a clause tied to his team status, with additional reports saying he received about $20 million in company stock. Ballmer invested roughly $50 million in Aspiration and the Clippers announced a $300 million partnership in 2021; the team says it ended the relationship in 2022–23 and denies any effort to circumvent the cap. Coverage has revisited earlier allegations that Leonard’s camp sought special off-court arrangements in 2019 and outlines possible penalties now at stake, including fines, loss of draft picks, contract actions and suspensions if violations are found.

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