The Los Angeles Clippers were at the center of a major scandal involving an allegedly fraudulent endorsement deal this summer. A deal between a company called Aspiration and superstar Kawhi Leonard was allegedly used to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap.2026 Mar 21; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesThe NBA is conducting an investigation into the allegedly fraudulent endorsement deal.
Additionally, Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg will learn his prison sentence for his fraud conviction on Monday.Clippers Owner Claims He Was “Duped”On Thursday, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer shared a letter he sent to U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson that claimed he and the Clippers franchise were “duped” by Aspiration. “Five years ago, I invested in Aspiration, a company focused on environmental sustainability, a cause deeply important to me and my family.
I also bought carbon credits and trees through the company to reduce the carbon footprint of the Clippers, Intuit Dome, the Kia Forum and all our fans and patrons. “Aspiration’s founder, Joe Sanberg, engaged in fraud that injured many, and eventually, took the company down. I was duped and feel silly about that.
Everyone who believed in Aspiration, including employees, customers and investors, was also duped. Everyone is still tallying the losses. Here is the letter I submitted to Judge Wilson ahead of Monday’s scheduled sentencing of Joe Sanberg,” Ballmer wrote in a social media post on X.
Mar 16, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer reacts against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesAccording to Ballmer’s letter to the judge, he invested $60 million into Aspiration. In addition to the financial losses Ballmer suffered by investing in Aspiration, Ballmer’s letter claims he has also suffered reputational damage.There is no timeline for when the NBA will complete its investigation into the endorsement deal. However, there is reportedly no longer an expectation that Leonard’s contract with the Clippers will be voided, which was initially listed as a potential punishment if found guilty.Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images