Superstar Kawhi Leonard has been a member of the Los Angeles Clippers since 2019. After winning an NBA Championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, Leonard opted to return to his hometown and signed with the Clippers. He signed a three-year contract before signing a four-year extension, which started in 2021.
Leonard is now heading into the second year of his third contract with the Clippers. It is a three-year contract valued at $149,505,800. During his time with the Clippers, Leonard has been one of the best players in the league when healthy. He is also one of the least controversial players in the league off the court, rarely having any issues. However, a report on Wednesday morning indicated Leonard is linked to an endorsement fraud controversy.
On Wednesday morning, Yahoo Sports reported on X that Leonard signed a $28 million endorsement deal for a “no show job” with a fraudulent tree-planting company. The company was reportedly funded by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. According to Pablo Torre, the deal was used as a tool to circumvent the salary cap.
“It was to circumvent the salary cap,” Pablo Torre said, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Kawhi Leonard reportedly signed a $28M endorsement deal for a “no-show job” with a fraudulent tree-planting company funded by $50M from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, per @PabloTorre.
“It was to circumvent the salary cap,” an inside source told Torre. pic.twitter.com/wicUsvz9XF
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 3, 2025
The Los Angeles Clippers Have Denied Any Wrongdoing Despite the Allegations of Fraud
Despite the allegations of fraud, Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers have denied any wrongdoing. According to a statement from the organization, the allegations are false.
“Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration. Any contrary assertion is provably false,” the Clippers said in a statement.
Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are heading into another important season in 2025-26. Leonard’s tenure with the Clippers has been largely disappointing. Despite championship expectations, the team has not reached the NBA Finals during his tenure, partially because of Leonard’s injury struggles. The team enters the season with high expectations again, but in a challenging Western Conference, it is unclear if the team will be able to compete with the other powerhouses in its conference.
Read More:
- 5-Star Caleb Holt Talks Kawhi Leonard Mentality: Breaks Down His Top Schools Including Kansas and Kentucky
- ‘Kawhi 2.0’ – Fans Spot Glimpses of Kawhi Leonard in Potential 1st Round Pick and Duke Commit Cedric Coward
- ‘Prime Kawhi Leonard’ – Cooper Flagg Compared to NBA Finals MVP by Western Conference GM
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
