Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers' Involvement in Kawhi Leonard's Endorsement Contract

The Los Angeles Clippers are a prominent professional basketball organization based in the Greater Los Angeles area, competing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as part of the Western Conference’s Pacific Division. Founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves, the franchise relocated to San Diego in 1978 and then to Los Angeles in 1984, where it adopted its current name. Historically overshadowed by the more successful Los Angeles Lakers, the Clippers struggled for decades but underwent a significant transformation in the 2010s, marked by the arrival of star players like Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan, who ushered in the celebrated “Lob City” era. A pivotal moment in the Clippers’ history came in 2014 when then-owner Donald Sterling was banned for life due to racist remarks, leading to the sale of the team to Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft. Ballmer’s ownership has been characterized by substantial investment in the franchise, including the construction of the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, which became the team’s home arena starting with the 2024–25 season. This move represents a major technological and business advancement, positioning the Clippers as a forward-thinking organization in sports infrastructure. The Clippers have made consistent playoff appearances in recent years, establishing themselves as serious contenders in the NBA. Their current roster features high-profile talent such as Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul, and the team continues to innovate in fan engagement and digital experiences. With a focus on building a championship-caliber team and leveraging cutting-edge technology, the Los Angeles Clippers stand as a dynamic example of how sports franchises can blend athletic excellence with business and technological innovation.

Aspiration, Inc. was founded in 2013 by Andrei Cherny and Joe Sanberg as a sustainability-focused digital financial services company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It aimed to offer socially conscious banking and investment products that avoided funding fossil fuels, with a mission encapsulated by the slogan "Do Well. Do Good." Aspiration launched publicly in 2015 and raised over $250 million by 2020. In 2021, it went public through a $2.3 billion SPAC merger backed by investors including Steve Ballmer, who committed $315 million in additional financing[1][3][7]. Aspiration’s signature product was the Aspiration Redwood Fund, aligned with sustainable investing principles. The company positioned itself as a "sustainability-as-a-service" provider, combining digital banking with environmental impact commitments such as pledging to plant millions of trees to offset carbon emissions. However, investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and Commodity Futures Trading Commission revealed discrepancies in these claims, leading to scrutiny of the founders’ actions and the company’s environmental assertions[1]. In March 2025, co-founder Joe Sanberg was arrested on fraud charges, and shortly after, Aspiration filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, planning to restructure debt and sell itself to creditors. The company also became embroiled in controversy involving the Los Angeles Clippers and NBA star Kawhi Leonard, where Aspiration was reportedly used to circumvent the NBA salary cap via an endorsement deal, intensifying legal and reputational challenges[1][3]. Before its collapse, Aspiration was notable for pioneering a business model blending fintech innovation with environmental and social responsibility, attracting significant investment and public attention for promoting ethical finance. Leadership changes occurred when Olivia Albrecht replaced Cherny as CEO in 2022 amid operational challenges[1]. Despite its downfall, Aspiration’s trajectory reflects the complexities and risks of integrating sustainability promises within financial services in the evolving business and technology landscape.

## Overview The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier professional basketball league in the world, featuring 30 teams—29 based in the United States and one in Canada[1]. Headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, the NBA is recognized as one of the major professional sports leagues in North America and is the second-wealthiest by revenue, trailing only the National Football League (NFL)[1]. NBA players are among the highest-paid athletes globally, reflecting the league’s commercial success and global appeal[1]. ## History The NBA was established in 1949 through the merger of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL), though it traces its official founding to the BAA’s 1946 inception[1]. A pivotal moment came in 1976 with the NBA-ABA merger, which expanded the league by four franchises and helped solidify its dominance in American basketball[1]. The league’s regular season traditionally runs from October to April, with each team playing 82 games, followed by a playoff tournament culminating in the NBA Finals in June[1]. ## Key Achievements The Boston Celtics hold the record for the most NBA championships, with 18 titles, most recently in 2024[1][3]. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the reigning champions, having won the 2025 NBA Finals—their first title since relocating from Seattle[1][3]. The NBA has also produced iconic individual achievements: LeBron James is the all-time leading scorer, and Russell Westbrook holds the record for most triple-doubles[3]. The league’s global reach is reflected in its massive fan base, social media presence, and international player recruitment. ## Current Status and Innovations The 2025–26 season marks the NBA’s 80th anniversary and introduces new broadcast partnerships with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video, signaling a major shift in sports media distribution[2]. The league continues to