Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is facing fresh controversy as 11 investors in the now-defunct financial firm Aspiration have filed a lawsuit accusing him of secretly funneling millions of dollars to star forward Kawhi Leonard .
The investors allege that Ballmer used Aspiration, rebranded as Catona, to circumvent NBA salary cap rules by indirectly paying Leonard more than allowed under league regulations. The lawsuit, which surfaced through journalist Pablo Torre’s reporting, paints a complex picture of hidden deals and financial deception tied to the Clippers organization.
The complaint also claims that Ballmer was “complicit in and aided and abetted [Aspiration co-founder Joe] Sanberg’s fraud for his own self-serving purpose.” According to the plaintiffs, Ballmer’s financial support kept the company afloat and concealed what they describe as an elaborate effort to benefit the team’s biggest star.
Lawsuit links Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard to secret payment scheme
According to court filings obtained by Pablo Torre, the investors accuse Ballmer of transferring funds through Aspiration to Kawhi Leonard to “induce Leonard to re-sign with the Clippers by covertly paying him more than allowed by the NBA’s salary cap rules.”
The lawsuit further alleges that Ballmer’s actions misled investors about the true nature of his involvement with the company. “Absent Ballmer’s support, [Aspiration] could not have sustained the frauds set forth herein,” the complaint states.
Plaintiffs claim they would not have invested in or maintained their financial stake in the company had they known about Ballmer’s alleged involvement in this hidden arrangement.
Skip Miller, a Los Angeles-based attorney representing the plaintiffs, said, “A lot of people have been hurt here. This lawsuit is being brought to recoup their losses. We look forward to our day in court, where everything will be aired out and justice will be done.”
The investors also allege that Ballmer funneled other funds into Aspiration to buy Sanberg’s “cooperation and silence” about the supposed secret deal with Leonard. The full scope of these transfers, they say, will be revealed during discovery.
Previously, the LA Clippers and Steve Ballmer denied wrongdoing
Ballmer and the Clippers have consistently denied any attempts to bypass NBA salary rules, insisting that both he and the team were defrauded by Aspiration. The organization maintains that its business with the company was tied only to sustainability efforts and carbon offset purchases linked to the upcoming Intuit Dome. “Unfortunately he was duped on the investment and some parts of this agreement, as were many other investors and employees,” the Clippers said in a statement.
Still, questions persist. Torre’s reporting reveals that Ballmer continued sending grants to entities associated with Sanberg even after the Clippers cut ties with Aspiration in 2023, prompting scrutiny over when Ballmer realized the extent of the alleged fraud.
Further update on the fresh lawsuit awaits.
Also Read: Who is Lester Jones? Former Atlanta Hawks executive accused of stealing $3.8 million for surprising reasons
The investors allege that Ballmer used Aspiration, rebranded as Catona, to circumvent NBA salary cap rules by indirectly paying Leonard more than allowed under league regulations. The lawsuit, which surfaced through journalist Pablo Torre’s reporting, paints a complex picture of hidden deals and financial deception tied to the Clippers organization.
The complaint also claims that Ballmer was “complicit in and aided and abetted [Aspiration co-founder Joe] Sanberg’s fraud for his own self-serving purpose.” According to the plaintiffs, Ballmer’s financial support kept the company afloat and concealed what they describe as an elaborate effort to benefit the team’s biggest star.
Lawsuit links Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard to secret payment scheme
🚨 UPDATE: Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has been sued by 11 Aspiration investors who allege Ballmer used the company (now named Catona) "to secretly funnel millions of dollars to star NBA player, Kawhi Leonard [...] paying him more than allowed by the NBA’s salary cap rules" 🧵 pic.twitter.com/GLnMHNfdWS
— Pablo Torre 👀 (@PabloTorre) November 4, 2025
According to court filings obtained by Pablo Torre, the investors accuse Ballmer of transferring funds through Aspiration to Kawhi Leonard to “induce Leonard to re-sign with the Clippers by covertly paying him more than allowed by the NBA’s salary cap rules.”
The lawsuit further alleges that Ballmer’s actions misled investors about the true nature of his involvement with the company. “Absent Ballmer’s support, [Aspiration] could not have sustained the frauds set forth herein,” the complaint states.
Plaintiffs claim they would not have invested in or maintained their financial stake in the company had they known about Ballmer’s alleged involvement in this hidden arrangement.
Skip Miller, a Los Angeles-based attorney representing the plaintiffs, said, “A lot of people have been hurt here. This lawsuit is being brought to recoup their losses. We look forward to our day in court, where everything will be aired out and justice will be done.”
The investors also allege that Ballmer funneled other funds into Aspiration to buy Sanberg’s “cooperation and silence” about the supposed secret deal with Leonard. The full scope of these transfers, they say, will be revealed during discovery.
Previously, the LA Clippers and Steve Ballmer denied wrongdoing
Ballmer and the Clippers have consistently denied any attempts to bypass NBA salary rules, insisting that both he and the team were defrauded by Aspiration. The organization maintains that its business with the company was tied only to sustainability efforts and carbon offset purchases linked to the upcoming Intuit Dome. “Unfortunately he was duped on the investment and some parts of this agreement, as were many other investors and employees,” the Clippers said in a statement.
Still, questions persist. Torre’s reporting reveals that Ballmer continued sending grants to entities associated with Sanberg even after the Clippers cut ties with Aspiration in 2023, prompting scrutiny over when Ballmer realized the extent of the alleged fraud.
Further update on the fresh lawsuit awaits.
Also Read: Who is Lester Jones? Former Atlanta Hawks executive accused of stealing $3.8 million for surprising reasons
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