Steve Ballmer, Kawhi Leonard, and the Los Angeles Clippers are facing serious scrutiny. Reports indicate that Leonard received a $28 million endorsement from a fraudulent tree-planting company when he signed with the Clippers in 2019.
The controversy threatens to have major consequences for Leonard, Ballmer, and the entire organization. But now they have an unexpected defender stepping forward: Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban.
Why Did Mark Cuban Defend Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers?
After journalist Pablo Torre published the Leonard story, Cuban took to his X account and delivered a lengthy defense of Ballmer.
“I’m on Team Ballmer,” Cuban wrote. “As much as I wish they circumvented the salary cap, First Steve isn’t that dumb. If he did try to feed KL money, knowing what was at stake for him personally, and his team, do you think he would let the company go bankrupt? Knowing all creditors would be visible to the world?”
Cuban then explained his belief that Ballmer and the Clippers were victims rather than perpetrators in this scheme.
Exclusive: Kawhi Leonard signed a $28M endorsement deal for a “no-show job” with a fraudulent tree-planting company funded by $50M from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, according to documents obtained by @PabloTorre.
“It was to circumvent the salary cap,” an inside source says. pic.twitter.com/F6z5pNEkI1
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) September 3, 2025
“They got scammed by Aspiration, along with many others. Crimes for which they pleaded guilty last week.
“Scammers do scammy things. They did a $300m sponsorship deal with the Clippers in 2021. That’s a HUGE deal. The better the team does, the more value the sponsorship has. It actually makes perfect sense that if they stole money from investors and want the Clippers to succeed, why not give stolen money to help keep their best player?”
I’m on Team Ballmer.
As much as I wish they circumvented the salary cap, First Steve isn’t that dumb. If he did try to feed KL money, knowing what was at stake for him personally, and his team, do you think he would let the company go bankrupt ? Knowing all creditors would… https://t.co/AxvMoLmPv7— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) September 3, 2025
Cuban concluded by criticizing Torre’s reporting approach.
“It’s sad that (Torre) didn’t take the time to find out how these scammers pulled off their scam. The idea that the default is Ballmer is the bad guy is going to backfire on him,” Cuban wrote.
What Does Cuban’s Defense Mean for the Clippers?
On one hand, critics will note that a billionaire is defending another billionaire in this situation, so they’ll take what Cuban says with skepticism. However, that doesn’t make his arguments any less valid.
Everyone deserves the right to defend themselves when facing serious allegations, and Ballmer and the Clippers are no exception. This situation may ultimately be blown out of proportion and lead to nothing in the end.
Even so, Ballmer and his organization still face significant questions about their role in this matter. The optics remain challenging for the franchise. More details are certain to emerge in the coming days and weeks, making this a story worth following closely as it develops.
