NBA’s Investigation into Kawhi Leonard’s Alleged Payments Still Ongoing, Commissioner Silver Calls It “Complex”
The Clippers are hosting the league’s brightest stars this weekend at the brand-new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, but there’s more than just All-Star buzz surrounding the franchise right now. A cloud of uncertainty continues to hang over Los Angeles, as the NBA’s investigation into alleged improper payments involving Kawhi Leonard remains active - and, according to Commissioner Adam Silver, far from simple.
The Allegations: $28 Million in Question
At the heart of the investigation is a report alleging that Leonard received $28 million through a fraudulent endorsement deal - a move that, if proven true, would represent a serious violation of the NBA’s salary cap rules.
The report claims that Leonard was paid $7 million annually via an endorsement agreement with Aspiration, a tree-planting company. The deal allegedly funneled money to Leonard through a shell entity named “KL2 Aspire LLC” - a name that matches Leonard’s initials and jersey number. According to the report, this company was listed among creditors in a bankruptcy filing, raising red flags about the legitimacy of the arrangement.
What’s particularly striking is that while Aspiration reportedly paid several celebrities for endorsements, Leonard has never publicly promoted the company. That absence of public association has fueled speculation about whether the deal was ever intended to be a real marketing partnership - or simply a financial workaround.
Silver Speaks: “Thousands of Documents, Multiple Witnesses”
Speaking Saturday at the Intuit Dome, just ahead of the weekend’s All-Star festivities, Commissioner Silver addressed the status of the investigation. And while he didn’t offer any conclusions, he did make it clear that the process is extensive - and still very much in motion.
“I haven’t come to any decisions whatsoever yet on the Clippers matter,” Silver said. “The league office is not directly running the investigation. It’s being overseen by a law firm, Wachtel, in New York.”
Silver emphasized that the Clippers have been fully cooperative and reiterated that the investigation’s timeline hasn’t been influenced by the All-Star Weekend being held in Los Angeles.
“This is a complex matter,” Silver said. “You have a company in bankruptcy.
You have thousands of documents, multiple witnesses that have needed to be interviewed. Our charge to the Wachtel law firm is: do the work, then come back and make recommendations to the league office.
And that’s where things now stand.”
Leonard’s Focus: On the Court, Not the Headlines
While the investigation continues behind the scenes, Leonard’s focus has remained on the floor - and his play has spoken volumes. He’s averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, helping the Clippers claw their way back toward .500 as the season reaches its midway point.
Despite initially being left off the All-Star roster, Leonard was named a reserve by Silver, earning his seventh All-Star selection. When asked about the snub and whether the investigation had any impact on the decision, Leonard didn’t flinch.
“I don’t think Adam Silver would let something like that play into how a player is playing on the court. Especially me,” Leonard said.
He added that he’s never been one to lobby for accolades. “I’m not looking for handouts,” he said.
“I was just going to keep putting in the work. I didn’t get down.
There was a lot going on at that time as well. I just wanted to focus on the team.”
A Homecoming All-Star Moment
For Leonard, this All-Star appearance carries a little extra meaning. Not only is he the lone Clipper on the roster, but he’s doing it in his backyard - having grown up in nearby Moreno Valley. Playing at the Intuit Dome, the Clippers’ gleaming new home, adds another layer to the moment.
“It’s very exciting,” Leonard said. “Especially being so young, the architecture, the way it was built - it’s amazing. And especially being in LA.”
What Comes Next
As the NBA prepares for tipoff of the 75th All-Star Game on Sunday afternoon, the league’s investigation into the alleged payments continues in the background. There’s no timeline yet for when the findings will be released, but Silver made it clear that the league is committed to getting it right - not rushing to judgment.
Until then, Leonard and the Clippers remain in the spotlight - not just for what they’re doing on the court, but for the questions that still need answering off of it.