NBA star Kawhi Leonard reportedly signed a $28 million endorsement deal for a "no-show job" with a tree-planting company funded by Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, raising serious questions about the nature of his NBA contract.
On the latest episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out, Torre was joined by Amin Elhassan and David Samson to talk about the findings of his investigation into Leonard's mysterious deal with Aspiration, a "tree brokerage" company. In March 2025, Aspiration filed for bankruptcy, and one of the creditors in the filing was named KL2 Aspire LLC, which allegedly belongs to Leonard. While Torre noted that KL2 was listed as a creditor for $7 million, it doesn't appear that Leonard publicly endorsed Aspiration. Many big-name celebrities, including Drake and Robert Downey Jr., did, however.
"NBA executives were suspicious of how Steve Ballmer's Clippers landed the most valuable free agent on the market, Kawhi Leonard," said Torre about Leonard signing with the team in 2019. "In March 2024, this celebrity-endorsed multi-billion dollar, allegedly fraudulent, tree brokerage... they file for bankruptcy." In the bankruptcy filing, Leonard's KL2 was listed as one of the companies still owed money by Aspiration. The tree-planting company was given $50 million in funding by Ballmer.
As Torre learned, Leonard signed a $28 million "no-show job" endorsement deal with Aspiration, effective from April 2022, that was contingent on his remaining with the Clippers. Torre spoke with several people who worked at Aspiration, including one employee from the finance department who agreed to talk under the condition of anonymity.
"It was to circumvent the salary cap," they said, noting that Leonard's agreement with Aspiration was the "single largest sponsorship deal" the company made. "It completely eclipsed every other agreement," they continued, adding that Leonard "evaded all press" about the deal. "He didn't have to do anything," they said.
Torre reached out to Leonard and his representatives but did not receive a response. The Clippers, however, denied the allegation that the hefty deal was an attempt to get past the salary cap.
"Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration," the team said in a statement. "Any contrary assertion is provably false."
Last month, the Department of Justice confirmed that Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg agreed to plead guilty in a scheme to defraud investors and lenders that resulted in a total of $248 million in losses. Per Bloomberg Law, the SEC reiterated that its investigation into Aspiration remains ongoing.
ComplexCon returns to Las Vegas on October 25–26, 2025, with over 300 brands and live performances by Young Thug, YEAT & Friends, Peso Pluma, Central Cee, Ken Carson, and more. Get your tickets now.