NBA Releases Clippers Investigation Findings, ESPN's Earlier Report Said to Contain Inaccuracies

The NBA's final findings from its investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers have added new context to the matter involving Kawhi Leonard's alleged off-court compensation, while also bringing renewed attention to ESPN's report from August. The league fined Leonard $700,000, suspended Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for one year, and took away five first-round draft picks from the team.

Differences between ESPN's report and the NBA's conclusion

In its August 17 report, ESPN said investigators found no evidence that Ballmer sent money to Leonard through a team sponsor, and described the investigation as focusing on whether the introduction between Leonard and a team sponsor violated NBA rules. However, the NBA's final investigative conclusion went further, stating that the Clippers initiated, facilitated, and induced endorsement agreements involving Leonard and four companies.

NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said on August 17 that ESPN's article about the Clippers investigation “contained numerous and significant inaccuracies,” and said the investigation's conclusions would be clearly announced after the process was completed.

Pablo Torre hints there is more to come

After the NBA announced the investigation results, Pablo Torre said on the program “Pablo Torre Finds Out”: “There is more beyond the NBA report. This is not everything. There is more. I don't even know if we will get to that part, but there really is more.”

Torre made the warning as the league fined the Clippers $30 million, required the team to carry out a five-year compliance plan, took away first-round draft picks from 2029 through 2033, and suspended Ballmer for one year.

Investigation scope went beyond ESPN's single reported allegation

The NBA's final investigation findings were broader than the specific allegation discussed in ESPN's report. Investigators found that the Clippers initiated and facilitated off-court business opportunities between Leonard and four companies: Aspiration Partners, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics, and Lockton Insurance. The team also provided business opportunities to companies that signed endorsement agreements with Leonard in exchange.

In the Aspiration arrangement, Leonard's company KL2 Aspire LLC received an endorsement agreement worth $28 million, while Ballmer approved a separate Forum Agreement that investigators said was a prerequisite for Aspiration to provide funding for Leonard's agreement.

The pattern extended to other companies. The NBA said the Clippers used team business opportunities to induce endorsement arrangements involving Daktronics, Boingo Wireless, and Lockton Insurance. Daktronics, which manufactured the Halo Board at Intuit Dome, signed an endorsement agreement with Leonard, while the Boingo and Lockton arrangements were also included in the league's findings. According to the investigation, by August 2021, Leonard had received a combined $18 million from agreements with Daktronics, Boingo, and Lockton.