It’s the start of September, which would typically mean that the focus of the sporting world is on the NFL. However, thanks to a deep investigation, the limelight has shifted to the NBA, thanks to one of the biggest potential scandals in modern sports history. It has brought the Los Angeles Clippers, particularly owner Steve Ballmer and superstar Kawhi Leonard, under intense scrutiny.
With huge repercussions in the balance, an official verdict is yet to be made. But before the NBA makes its decision, Ballmer made an appearance on ESPN to discuss the entire matter and try to explain the situation at hand. Here’s everything he had to say about the scandal involving his franchise and centerpiece.
Who’s To Blame in the Alleged Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard Scandal?
When Leonard became a free agent at the end of a meteoric 2019 run to the NBA Championship with the Toronto Raptors, there were a few viable destinations for the two-time NBA Finals MVP. The Los Angeles Lakers were near the top of his priority list, with a potential return to Toronto also on the cards. Eventually, it was the other team in LA that won the sweepstakes, forming a new superteam with Leonard at its center.
However, a report from analyst Pablo Torre on his podcast, “Pablo Torre Finds Out”, led to a shocking discovery about that time period. It has immediately cast a black mark on the entire Clippers organization and Leonard’s time with the franchise. According to his reports, Leonard received nearly $48 million from a company called Aspiration. From the amount, $28 million was to be paid in quarterly amounts over four years, whereas the other $20 million came in the form of stocks.
On its own, there is nothing wrong with the deal. But a curious investment from Ballmer worth $50 million has prompted the NBA to conduct its own investigation to learn of any wrongdoing in the proceedings.
The Clippers, on their end, have firmly denied these allegations, sharing a direct message via ESPN. In the message, they made it clear that the parties hadn’t engaged in any activity that would circumvent the salary cap rules. However, going a step further, Ballmer made an appearance on the network to plead his case and instead shed light on how he was the victim in the entire scenario. He made it clear that he had no idea what the court documents related to Aspiration’s bankruptcy were.
Steve Ballmer:
“Pablo’s podcast I don’t know anything about the court documents on this. I haven’t seen them and I don’t know. The speculation is what it is. They conned me. I made an investment in these guys” https://t.co/5HqOZF5z9A pic.twitter.com/iqI1kYMZHL
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) September 5, 2025
Moreover, he appealed, “I don’t know why they did what they did, and I don’t know how different it is. I really don’t. Frankly, any speculation would be kind of crazy. These are guys who committed fraud. They conned me. I made an investment in these guys thinking they were on the up and up, and they conned me.”
To make things clearer, he spoke directly to the NBA fans as he provided a timeline for how things proceeded. “Let’s talk to the fans: We signed that deal with Kawhi before any of this, before Kawhi even knows these people. We’ve signed our deal. That’s high integrity. We made our deal with Aspiration.”
He further clarified that he didn’t have any control over the comapny, nor did he know any specifics about the deal they made with Leonard. “We did things by the book.”
Where Does Ballmer Stand on the Allegations?
The first shocking detail to emerge from the entire exchange was Ballmer’s admission that he hadn’t talked to the former Defensive Player of the Year about the situation, claiming, “It’s really his business with Aspiration, so I wouldn’t ask about it.” Continuing, he was the picture of innocence as he declared that he wanted the league to take any such allegations and the ensuing investigation seriously. He added, “I want the league to investigate, take it seriously.”
However, he did admit that he was unsure how the rest of the owners were going to react to the news. He did reveal another discovery that pointed to his innocence. Continuing on the connection between Aspiration and Leonard, he revealed his discovery.
“We even found the email that makes the first introduction. It was early November. I won’t remember the exact date. Where could any of this circumvention have happened? It didn’t. It couldn’t have. The introduction got made, and then they were off to the races on their own. We weren’t involved.”
Finally, he came to his main reason for making an appearance on ESPN. Rather than embracing it as a way to clear his name, Ballmer was adamant that he wanted to let his feelings about the situation be known.
Steve Ballmer:
“We even found the email that makes the first introduction It was early November. I won’t remember the exact date. Where could any of this circumvention have happened? It didn’t. It couldn’t have” pic.twitter.com/CvtyHXfyL3
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) September 5, 2025
“The opportunity to talk about what we’ve done and express, I guess, some of the anger I’m feeling about what’s going on, and I also feel some sadness for our employees. I’m mad, but I’m also sad that they’re going through this as well as our staff and our fans.”
Until the NBA’s investigation is complete and a verdict is reached, the situation will remain a topic of speculation and debate regarding Ballmer’s innocence.
