“It’s really his business”: Steve Ballmer not in contact with Kawhi Leonard amid cap circumvention allegations

Steve Ballmer spoke to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne for the first time since podcaster Pablo Torre dropped a bombshell about the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard. On Wednesday, Torre said that the NBA star signed a $28 million deal for Aspiration, a company Ballmer had invested in. According to Torre, the now-bankrupt company was used to pay Leonard to circumvent the league’s stringent salary cap.

Ballmer said he has not talked to the two-time NBA Finals MVP since Torre made the allegations. When asked by Shelburne if he’d like to hear from Leonard, the billionaire responded:

“It’s really his business with Aspiration. I wouldn’t ask about it, no.

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Steve Ballmer firmly told Ramona Shelburne that neither he nor the Clippers did anything wrong in Kawhi Leonard's deal with Aspiration. According to the former Microsoft CEO, they introduced Leonard to one of its sponsors, a procedure within the rules of the NBA. Ballmer added that he eventually knew Leonard and Aspiration had a deal, but claimed no knowledge of contract details.

Ballmer continued that Pablo Torre's allegations were not true. He said that Leonard's business is the two-time champ's business, but the LA Clippers and Leonard have "always done the right thing."

Steve Ballmer is unsure whether fellow team governors trust him following allegations about Kawhi Leonard and Clippers

Multiple reports came out on Wednesday that the NBA would launch an investigation following Pablo Torre's report about the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard. Steve Ballmer told Ramona Shelburne that he would want the league to make a probe into any team suspected of circumventing the salary cap.

After making that comment, Shelburne asked if Ballmer thought he still had the trust of the NBA board. The billionaire briefly paused before responding:

"I hope they'll have faith and confidence in me. I've felt they've gotten to know me, but I can't predict."

Besides saying that Kawhi Leonard's deal with Aspiration had nothing to do with the LA Clippers, Steve Ballmer added that his $50 million dollar investment was less than 3 percent on the company. Without control, he claimed that he wouldn't be able to dictate Aspiration to sign Leonard to a deal.

Ballmer hopes he still has the NBA board's trust as the league begins its investigation into the allegations.

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Michael Macasero

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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