NBA nearing end of Clippers salary‑cap probe involving Kawhi Leonard
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers is close to a conclusion ahead of Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals. An independent law firm has been reviewing whether the Clippers used a $28 million endorsement agreement with fintech Aspiration to circumvent the salary cap. Interviews have been completed with star forward Kawhi Leonard, his uncle and adviser Dennis Robertson, owner Steve Ballmer and other team executives.
Aspiration, which received $50 million of Ballmer’s investment in 2021 and later additional funding, has since gone bankrupt and its co‑founder Joe Sanberg pleaded guilty to a multihundred‑million‑dollar fraud scheme, receiving a 14‑year prison sentence. The NBA could impose fines up to $7.5 million, loss of draft picks, void contracts or suspensions if violations are confirmed. Ballmer denies wrongdoing, saying he lost his investment. Silver emphasized the need for finality while ensuring any discipline is correct. The commissioner also referenced unrelated league matters such as expansion, anti‑tanking rules and the NBA Europe plan.