"I'd want the league to investigate, take it seriously, Ballmer told ESPN on Thursday in his first interview since the story broke following an extensive report by podcaster Pablo Torre. The Clippers are being accused of trying to get around NBA salary cap rules by feeding $28m to Leonard in the form of a no-show endorsement deal with the now-bankrupt company partially funded by Ballmer. Aspiration has faced accusations of fraud and one of its co-founders, Joseph Sanberg, agreed to plead guilty in August to defrauding multiple investors."
"Ballmer told ESPN that Aspiration asked him to introduce the deal to Leonard but denied he had knowledge of the endorsement contract the sides eventually signed. Per Ballmer, the introduction came in November 2021 three months after Leonard agreed to a four-year, $173m extension with Leonard. In September 2021, the Clippers announced a $300m partnership with Aspiration."
"We even found the email that makes the first introduction. It was early November, Ballmer said. The introduction got made and then they were off to the races on, on their own. We weren't involved. I eventually learned that they had reached a deal. I have no idea what the deal was. Ballmer also expressed no knowledge of the amount of the deal. I don't know why they did what they did, and I don't know how different it is [compared with other endorsement deals], he said."
Steve Ballmer said he had no knowledge of the specifics or amount of a reported $28 million no-show endorsement paid to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Ballmer said he introduced Aspiration to Leonard in November 2021 but denied involvement in the endorsement contract and said he learned of the deal only later. Aspiration, partially funded by Ballmer, has faced fraud accusations and a co-founder agreed to plead guilty to defrauding investors. The NBA announced it is commencing an investigation into the Clippers regarding possible salary-cap circumvention. The Clippers had announced a $300 million partnership with Aspiration in September 2021.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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