Ex-Aspiration CEO denies Kawhi had no-show deal

The erstwhile main enforcement serviceman of Aspiration, the institution that LA Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer is accused of utilizing to circumvent the wage cap, said Friday that claims that Kawhi Leonard signed a no-show declaration with his erstwhile institution are false.

"The declaration contained 3 pages of extended obligations that Leonard had to perform," Andrei Cherny, who near the institution successful 2022, wrote successful a connection posted connected X. "And the declaration intelligibly said that if Leonard did not conscionable those obligations, Aspiration could terminate the contract."

Last week the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast reported that Aspiration reportedly agreed to a four-year, $28 cardinal endorsement woody with Leonard successful 2022. Ballmer had invested $50 cardinal done his idiosyncratic LLC successful September 2021, and the Clippers announced a $300 cardinal concern with Aspiration 2 weeks later. An unnamed worker who purportedly worked for Aspiration told Torre that the outgo to Leonard "was to circumvent the wage cap."

Additionally connected Thursday, Torre reported that Clippers constricted spouse Dennis J. Wong invested $1.99 cardinal successful Aspiration successful 2022, 9 days earlier the institution made a $1.75 cardinal outgo to Leonard. The Athletic reported Friday that Ballmer invested an further $10 cardinal into Aspiration successful 2023 arsenic portion of a fundraising circular with different erstwhile Aspiration investors.

The NBA is investigating whether Ballmer oregon the Clippers violated league rules. The Clippers person denied wrongdoing, and Ballmer has said helium had nary cognition of the endorsement declaration oregon that helium directed the institution to motion one.

In his connection connected X, Cherny said helium signed the declaration with Leonard successful 2022.

"In the months of treatment among our executives earlier signing the sponsorship, I don't retrieve conversations astir the NBA wage cap," Cherny said successful his statement. "I signed the declaration soon earlier I submitted my resignation, but earlier I near determination were galore internation conversations astir the assorted things Aspiration was readying to with Leonard erstwhile the 2022-23 play began. ... I can't talk to what was done oregon not done aft I near -- oregon why."

When reached for remark Friday, Cherny declined to remark beyond the statement.

Aspiration filed for bankruptcy successful 2025, and its co-founder Joe Sanberg pled blameworthy past period to 2 counts of ligament fraud for defrauding investors and lenders of much than $248 million.