Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Kawhi Leonard insisted he and the Los Angeles Clippers were innocent of wrongdoing following allegations the club was involved in a scheme to dodge salary cap rules, triggering an NBA investigation. In his first remarks on the controversy since the allegations first emerged earlier this month, Leonard said the Clippers had “nothing to hide” from investigators probing the claims.
“I don’t read headlines, I don’t do conspiracies, theories or anything like that,” Leonard said at the Clippers’ media day ahead of the start of the 2025/2026 season. “The NBA is going to do their job. None of us did no wrongdoing. And that’s it,” Leonard added. “We invite their investigations. It’s not going to be a distraction for me or the rest of the team.”
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A podcast report by journalist Pablo Torre alleged this month that the Clippers skirted salary cap rules through a now-bankrupt company called Aspiration, in which Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was an investor. Torre reported that Leonard signed a contract worth $28 million over four years in 2021 to market and endorse Aspiration but never did so, saying an unidentified Aspiration employee told him the payment was to get around NBA salary cap rules. The Clippers and Ballmer have vigorously denied the claim.
The NBA has launched an investigation into the allegations, with Commissioner Adam Silver saying earlier this month it would be up to the league to prove impropriety. In separate remarks to reporters on Monday, Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank made an impassioned defense of the organization, saying the team “welcomed” the NBA investigation.
“We are glad there is an investigation. We welcome it. We appreciate that there’ll be a clear eye to look at these allegations, and we’re eager for the truth to come out,” Frank read from a written statement. “The assumptions and conclusions that have been made are disappointing and upsetting,” the executive added, insisting the Clippers adhered to salary cap regulations. “The accusations made against us are serious and they don’t line up with my experience, my reality. We will cooperate with this investigation and let this process play out.”
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