In the summertime of 2019, Kawhi Leonard was once on the best of the NBA global. After guiding the Toronto Raptors to their first championship, the calm celebrity entered unfastened company as essentially the most sought-after participant to be had. His selection would exchange the league’s dynamics, balancing native loyalty with championship desires and private needs.After all, Leonard selected the Los Angeles Clippers as an alternative of the Los Angeles Lakers or a imaginable comeback with the Raptors.
Why Kawhi Leonard Dodged the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James
From the start, the Lakers had been regarded as an extended shot, in spite of their flashy recognition and the addition of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. In 2019, more than a few studies discussed that Leonard had no need to play with James, pondering it would result in a conflict of egos or types.In step with NBA insider Chris Haynes, then with Yahoo Sports activities, Leonard’s camp explicitly have shyed away from the Lakers as a result of he “did not wish to play with LeBron,” who prefer to be the unquestioned chief. This sentiment was once echoed in later reflections; for example, in a 2024 Fadeaway International record, it was once famous that Leonard rejected the risk to shape a superteam with James and Davis, opting as an alternative for Paul George as a spouse.A faceless NBA govt discussed to Newsweek in September 2025 that the Lakers “dodged a bullet” by means of no longer obtaining Leonard, highlighting his damage file and the unfolding scandal. At that second, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka was once chasing Leonard laborious, however the ahead’s dislike for sharing the highlight with James who he had simply triumphed over within the Finals with the Warriors sealed the deal. Leonard’s determination appreciated freedom over becoming a member of a dominant workforce.
The Los Angeles Clippers to begin with categorised the allegations as provably false prior to converting their language to absurd
Soar forward to 2021-2022, and issues get a little dicey with Leonard’s settlement with Aspiration, a local weather finance corporate. As Pablo Torre first discussed on his podcast “Pablo Torre Reveals Out” again in September 2025, Aspiration dedicated to meting out $7 million every yr for 4 years starting in April 2022, in particular for no services and products supplied.The contract, discovered amongst greater than 3,000 pages of paperwork, had a clause that allow Leonard off the hook from any paintings. Torre additionally verified, during the Boston Sports activities Magazine, that Leonard were given $20 million in corporate stocks now totally nugatory after Aspiration went bankrupt.In August 2021, Leonard signed an extension with the Clippers; then in September 2021, Ballmer put $50 million into Aspiration; that very same month, the Clippers introduced Aspiration as a sponsor; Leonard’s LLC were given registered in November 2021; and the payouts kicked off in 2022. An unnamed Aspiration worker advised Torre this was once a “scheme to skirt the NBA wage cap.” The deal was once by no means publicized, not like endorsements with celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio or Drake, who won a long way much less.In a September 2025 interview with Ramona Shelburne for ESPN, Ballmer refuted claims of cap violations, announcing he was once “conned” by means of Aspiration and had no say of their handle Leonard. He stated that he offered Aspiration to Leonard at their request however maintained that the Clippers adopted the foundations. To begin with, the Clippers categorised the allegations as “provably false,” however later they toned it right down to “absurd.“Additionally Learn: Luka Doncic shuts down the critics with a EuroBasket best possible defender nominationUp to now, Leonard and Robertson have saved quiet. If this scandal is showed, it would overshadow previous instances just like the 1998 Joe Smith-Timberwolves industry, which ended in consequences and misplaced draft alternatives. At this second, it places a detrimental spin on Leonard’s selection to head with the Clippers warding off LeBron, securing George, and reportedly receiving a $28 million facet deal that Toronto ethically declined.