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Pablo Torre Claims Kawhi Leonard Received At Least $66 Million In Endorsement Deals Amid Clippers Scandal

Fadeaway World · Vishwesha Kumar · 2026-09-03T19:02:21+00:00 · nguồn gốc

Kawhi Leonard might have gotten at least $66 million through endorsement agreements connected to companies doing business with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to investigative journalist Pablo Torre, whose reporting on Leonard’s Aspiration agreement is what triggered the NBA’s salary cap circumvention investigation. Torre actually broke down the numbers during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show. “So I’ll tell you factually what I know and what I don’t. So Aspiration has a total value of $48 million. Now let’s bring in the other companies, right? Boingo Wireless, which is just funny because, of course, the wireless provider of the Intuit Dome is giving Kawhi Leonard payments off the books. Of course, Daktronics, a scoreboard operator, and of course, Lockton Insurance. The insurance company on the construction of the Dome is doing the same thing, Dan.” “Those three companies, according to the NBA’s investigation, through 2021 guaranteed $18 million to Kawhi Leonard. So, doing the math, at $66 million only through, let’s call it, 2022. He re-signs with the Clippers, as I’ve said before on my show, in January of ’24 for a discount. A discount. Less than the max. Why, and what happened there?” “And so you’re at $66 million-plus. I’ve told the story, the beginning of it, around the Rhode Island Football Club starting LLC, in which he got secret, undisclosed equity the week before he signed the extension. And I ask, as always, what else was there? And I have a feeling, as always, that there is more.” And according to Torre, $66 million may only be the amount that can actually be accounted for right now. That figure includes more than the widely reported $28 million cash component of Kawhi Leonard’s Aspiration arrangement. The overall package, including ancillary deals, could bring the value up to $48 million. But Aspiration was not the only company identified during the investigation. That total number provides further context on why Kawhi Leonard’s $700,000 restitution payment fetched such levels of criticism. The NBA’s investigation resulted in the Clippers receiving a $30 million fine and losing five future first-round picks. Owner Steve Ballmer was suspended for a year, while Lawrence Frank and Gillian Zucker also got suspensions. Leonard avoided both a suspension and a voiding of his contract, while his former business representative Dennis Robertson was banned from future NBA business dealings. One of the major reasons why Leonard avoided any voiding of his contract or suspension is due to the intervention of the NBPA. Torre, however, thinks the $66 million might not be the complete financial picture. Leonard signed a three-year extension with the Los Angeles Clippers in January 2024 for a little less than the maximum available, agreeing to a $153 million deal instead of the four-year max worth $220 million. That is something that Torre thinks will raise more questions when we see the additional arrangements. The question has become increasingly significant because the scandal itself just keeps on expanding. What began with Aspiration eventually grew to four companies, which were identified by the NBA. Based on Torre’s calculations, Leonard’s known endorsement arrangements add up to at least $66 million in potential value, and Torre thinks that the final number could be much, much higher.