Kawhi Leonard, the star forward for the LA Clippers, addressed allegations suggesting he did not fulfill his contractual obligations with the now-bankrupt financial services company Aspiration. At the team’s media day, Leonard went all in with his comments. As for the argument that he has provided the company with no service as an officer, he confidently shoots that one down, too. This announcement comes on the heels of Aspiration’s bankruptcy filing last week. Leonard’s name appeared as one of the company’s biggest creditors.
According to Leonard’s estimates, Aspiration owed him $7 million. He pointed out that while he did receive that full sum in payments in excess, it was not the whole amount. When I asked him about recovering what he was owed, he shrugged and said, “No, but the company is out of business now.” This recognition sums up the current financial crisis that has hit Aspiration, a company that formerly built in partnership with the Clippers.
Then, in September 2021, they dropped the news of a deep partnership. This deal featured a massive $300 million sponsorship, featuring branding on the Clippers’ new arena and the team’s jerseys. In needs of a rounder pitchman, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer brought Leonard to Aspiration in November 2021. This occurred just months after Leonard signed a four-year, $173 million extension with the team, in the wake of him returning from a partially torn knee ligament suffered during the Clippers’ historic playoff run.
Given everything that’s happening, Leonard isn’t worried about the NBA’s current investigation period, but he is hopeful. And I guarantee you that the NBA will take care of business. This announcement bolstered his dangerous idea that these findings will vindicate him of any illegal activity. Alongside Leonard’s comments, Ballmer expressed his dismay at the situation, stating, “Look, they conned me. They conned me. I made an investment in these guys thinking they were on the up and up, and they conned me.”
Leonard definitely doubled down on his pledge to keep things very open and above board during this process. He maintained that neither he nor any involved parties engaged in wrongdoing, adding, “None of us did no wrongdoing. That’s it. We invite the investigations. It’s not going to be a distraction for me or the rest of the team.” He dismissed speculation and sensationalism surrounding the situation, indicating that he does not engage with “conspiracies or the clickbait analysts or journalism that’s going on.”
As both Leonard and Ballmer navigate this challenging chapter involving Aspiration’s bankruptcy, they remain focused on the upcoming NBA season, with Leonard aiming to contribute positively to his team’s performance. The investigation’s results, whatever they may be, will shape how the NBA is viewed and interacted with as this story continues to develop.
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