Ballmer defends himself against the big problem with Kawhi Leonard: "I want the league to investigate and take it seriously"

Steve Ballmer, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, stated in an interview with ESPN that if another team or owner were accused of evading NBA salary rules, he would expect the league to investigate it seriously. These statements come after a report by journalist Pablo Torre on a podcast indicated that the Clippers had circumvented the salary cap in a deal related to Kawhi Leonard.

"I want the league to investigate and take it seriously," Ballmer emphasized in his first interview after the report was published. The NBA has already announced that it will open an investigation to determine if the owner and the franchise breached the rules, following Leonard receiving 28 million dollars in a sponsorship deal with Aspiration, an eco-friendly banking company in which Ballmer had invested, and which later went bankrupt.

Ballmer explained that Aspiration asked him to introduce Leonard, but denied having any knowledge of the final contract or intervening in it. According to the executive, the contact occurred in November 2021, three months after the player signed a four-year, 173 million dollar extension with the Clippers and two months after the franchise announced a 300 million dollar sponsorship deal with the company.

The businessman clarified that under league rules, it is possible to connect sponsors with players as long as the club is not involved in the negotiations. "We made the introduction in November and then they proceeded on their own. We were not involved," he stated.

Ballmer also mentioned that he has reviewed his interactions with Aspiration in the context of the U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the company. In August, its co-founder Joe Sanberg pleaded guilty to over 248 million dollars in electronic fraud. "I was deceived. I invested 50 million thinking it was legitimate, which represented less than 3% of the company. I had no control or board seat. It was a fraud," he asserted.

This case adds to other instances where Leonard's dealings with the Clippers have come under scrutiny. In 2019, the NBA investigated alleged improper demands during the player's free agency, though no irregularities were found. In 2020, a lawsuit against the team by Johnny Wilkes also led to inquiries that did not result in sanctions.

When asked why there are so many suspicions surrounding Leonard, Ballmer pointed out that the star's reserved nature fuels rumors and narratives. "I have had a great relationship with Kawhi. The accusations have not been true, and most importantly, we have always acted properly," he concluded.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ballmer se defiende del problemón con Kawhi Leonard: "Quiero que la liga investigue y lo tome en serio"