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Steve Ballmer Added to Investor Lawsuit Alleging Secret Payments to Kawhi Leonard Through Aspiration

Plaintiffs revised a July filing after a report on a $28 million no-show marketing deal, with the NBA investigation continuing.

Overview

  • Eleven former Aspiration investors filed a 133-page complaint alleging Ballmer used Aspiration, now Catona, to covertly pay Leonard and circumvent NBA salary-cap rules.
  • The amended suit claims Ballmer put more than $50 million into the company to keep it afloat and to support an arrangement intended to induce Leonard to re-sign with the Clippers.
  • Pablo Torre first reported the alleged $28 million no-show agreement and reported Ballmer’s addition to the lawsuit on Monday.
  • Ballmer has denied wrongdoing, saying any Aspiration deal with Leonard was independent of him and that he was conned as an investor.
  • The NBA is investigating the Clippers and Aspiration, and commissioner Adam Silver has said the league will be thorough in its review.