Clippers minority owner Dennis J. Wong reportedly made an almost $2 million investment in Aspiration, which turned around and paid Leonard $1.75 million — as required through his endorsement contract with the environmental company.
The Kawhi Leonard no-show job scandal, has intensified with new evidence about under-the-table payments revealed on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast.
Los Angeles Clippers minority owner Dennis J. Wong reportedly made an almost $2 million investment in Aspiration, which in turn paid Leonard $1.75 million, as required under his endorsement contract with the environmental company.
There were several late payments and irregularities in the financial transactions, including delayed payments to Leonard. A suspicious $2 million investment by Wong in Aspiration shortly before a critical payment to Leonard has drawn attention.
“It is beyond shocking, and I will tell you, I knew that the board (of directors at Aspiration) had put (in) money in December to make payroll and make rent… (so) it is not a rational investment that someone (Wong) would make,” one of two anonymous former Aspiration employees said on the podcast.
“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 … Steve Ballmer’s partner a week before $1.75 million was paid to Kawhi.”
Credit AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Leonard signed a $28 million no-show contract with Aspiration, a company in which Steve Ballmer, the Clippers' owner, was heavily invested. The contract, which included quarterly payments of $1.75 million, was tied to Leonard’s role with the Clippers and Aspiration’s financial dealings.
Last week, the NBA announced it is investigating the Clippers, majority owner Steve Ballmer, and Leonard to determine whether the league’s salary rules were circumvented through Leonard’s business arrangement with Aspiration. Ballmer has so far denied the allegations.
Like what we are doing? Support us by becoming BN+ member.