NBA Launches Deeper Probe into Clippers Dealing as Guilty Plea Raises New Questions
The National Basketball Association’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers has taken a significant turn with the recent guilty plea of Joseph Sanberg, co-founder of the now-bankrupt firm Aspiration Partners. Sanberg admitted to two counts of wire fraud tied to investor deception in a scheme that reportedly involved roughly $248 million. The plea adds a concrete legal layer to what had been primarily an investigative story: the NBA is examining whether the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer arranged for a roughly $28 million endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard via Aspiration, potentially as a salary-cap circumvention vehicle.
Sanberg’s plea is particularly notable because it highlights the tangled business structure around the deal: Aspiration had entered into a major sponsorship with the Clippers in 2021, and Ballmer invested heavily in the firm; documents suggest that Leonard’s contract with Aspiration tied payments to his continued tenure with the Clippers. While Sanberg did not directly implicate the team, the fact that a key architect of the deal has admitted to fraud places new pressure on the league’s fact-finding process. The question is no longer only whether the agreement existed, about the intentions and involvement of all parties.
The NBA has brought in the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to lead the investigation, and Commissioner Adam Silver has indicated that the process will take time, emphasizing that findings may rest on circumstantial evidence rather than direct proof of wrongdoing. Ballmer has denied knowledge of any skirting of salary-cap rules and maintains that neither he nor the team was aware of improper activity by Aspiration. The league’s disciplinary powers are substantial; fines, draft-pick losses, or even contract voiding are all on the table. Still, any action will require the independent arbitrator approved by the players’ union and the league to agree on findings.
Now, the spotlight shifts to what Sanberg may reveal through cooperation, and to what the league uncovers about the financial relationships among the Clippers, Leonard, and Aspiration. Sources say the deal tied Leonard’s payments to his role and longevity with the team despite little public evidence of endorsement work. The optics are particularly troublesome given Aspiration’s collapse and Sanberg’s admitted misconduct. For the Clippers, the outcome could affect not just this season’s roster and finances but also future business practices and endorsements across the league.
