Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers open the season Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz, but a cloud still hangs over LA's head regarding an ongoing NBA investigation.
Leonard and team owner Steve Ballmer are at the forefront of the investigation into whether the team allegedly helped facilitate a $28 million “no-show” endorsement deal for Leonard with a now-bankrupt sustainability company called Aspiration.
Aspiration, a green bank, was founded by Joe Sanberg and Andrei Cherny. Ballmer was an investor in the company.
The Clippers and Aspiration struck a $300 million sponsorship deal in 2021 that was vetted and approved by the league, according to ESPN.
It was some time after that sponsorship deal that the company reached a deal with Leonard.
