The Los Angeles Clippers nearly awarded arena naming rights to the fraudulent company Aspiration Partners in 2021, but ultimately chose Intuit. Aspiration, which went bankrupt and is linked to fraud involving Kawhi Leonard and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, is under investigation by the NBA for potentially circumventing salary cap rules through a $28 million endorsement deal with Leonard. Ballmer denies involvement in any wrongdoing, emphasizing that the team followed NBA rules, and welcomes the investigation.
The Los Angeles Times reports allegations that Kawhi Leonard received $21 million from Aspiration Partners in a way that may have circumvented NBA salary cap rules, prompting an NBA investigation. The case involves complex financial dealings, potential violations of league rules, and the bankruptcy of Aspiration, with ongoing questions about the legality and transparency of Leonard's payments.
Joseph Sanberg, a prominent Jewish-American entrepreneur known for his philanthropy and advocacy for social justice and green finance, has pleaded guilty to massive fraud involving over $248 million, leading to a potential prison sentence of up to 40 years. His company, Aspiration Partners, was falsely inflated through fabricated financial data and fake customer growth, undermining the credibility of the green finance movement and exposing risks in socially driven investments.
