Overview
- Joseph Sanberg pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud tied to a $248 million investor scheme, with sentencing set for Feb. 23, 2026.
- The Wall Street Journal reported a senior Aspiration executive recalled Sanberg saying in December 2021 that the Clippers approached him about a Kawhi Leonard deal, contradicting Ballmer’s ESPN account.
- The NBA’s independent probe, led by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, remains active with no penalties announced and could take time to conclude.
- Steve Ballmer has denied arranging a no‑show endorsement and said he was conned after investing $50 million in Aspiration, which later filed for bankruptcy.
- Leonard’s reported four‑year, $48 million agreement combined cash and stock with minimal promotional output, and Aspiration executives questioned the business logic without discussing cap circumvention internally.