The NBA’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and their former sponsor Aspiration took another turn this week with fresh reporting from Pablo Torre. According to Pablo Torre Finds Out, Clippers minority owner Dennis J. Wong made a large investment into the failing company just days before Kawhi Leonard received a late endorsement payment.
Back in 2021, Leonard agreed to a four-year, $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration, a financial firm that later collapsed. The contract paid Leonard $7 million a year, in quarterly payments of $1.75 million. The problem? Leonard reportedly never promoted the company. Torre’s reporting noted it was a “no-show” job, no appearances, no commercials, not even a social media post.
By the fall of 2022, Aspiration was spiraling and missed a scheduled payment to Leonard in September. That set off Leonard’s uncle and business manager, Dennis Robertson, often referred to as “Uncle Dennis.” He had previously raised eyebrows in 2019 by asking for significant perks in free agency meetings.
Then came Wong’s involvement. On December 6, 2022, Aspiration records show a $1.99 million wire from Wong’s investment LLP. Nine days later, Leonard received his $1.75 million quarterly check. That same day, Aspiration laid off ten percent of its remaining employees.
A finance executive with Aspiration told Torre:
“It is not a rational investment that someone would make. So it is very shocking to me that $2 million was made as an investment by Dennis Wong, who in my texts is identified as the ‘Clippers’ and Steve ‘Ballmer’s partner,’ a week before $1.75 million was paid to Kawhi.”
Steve Ballmer has denied any involvement, saying, “I was duped” by Aspiration, which also cost him $50 million in personal investments.
Whether the league finds a direct connection or not, the timing of Wong’s transfer and Leonard’s payday is drawing heavy scrutiny.