The Los Angeles Clippers remain at the center of one of the NBA’s most controversial investigations in years, and questions are mounting not just about the team’s conduct, but about the league office itself.
According to NBA insider reports, there is a widespread perception around the league that Commissioner Adam Silver is not acting as a neutral party in the ongoing probe into the Clippers’ alleged salary-cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard and the now-bankrupt financial company Aspiration.
“There’s a belief within NBA circles that both sides, the Clippers and the league, have been in communication, and are on something of the same page here,” journalist Ethan Strauss reported. “I’m not saying the Clippers will avoid a punishment. I am saying that both sides appear to be working in concert towards putting this scandal in the rearview, and NBA messaging reflects that”.
The controversy stems from reports that Leonard signed a lucrative endorsement deal with Aspiration, a company in which Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was a major investor. The deal has been described by critics as a “no-show job” worth millions, raising suspicions that it was a mechanism to funnel additional compensation to Leonard outside of the salary cap.
Bankruptcy filings later revealed Leonard as one of Aspiration’s largest creditors, owed at least $7 million when the company collapsed. Both Leonard and the Clippers have denied wrongdoing, insisting that the arrangement was legitimate and unrelated to the team’s payroll.
Silver has publicly pushed back on the notion of bias, stressing that the league is committed to fairness.
“The burden [of proof] is on the league if we’re going to discipline a team, owner, or player,” Silver said earlier this month. “As a matter of fundamental fairness, I would be reluctant to act if there was only an appearance of impropriety”.
He also claimed that he had never heard of Aspiration before the allegations surfaced and emphasized that the investigation is being handled with independence.
Despite Silver’s assurances, rival executives and agents remain unconvinced.
“Everyone I talk to around the league believes the Clippers are guilty,” one insider noted.
The skepticism reflects not only the seriousness of the allegations but also the perception that the NBA has a vested interest in protecting one of its marquee franchises and a high-profile superstar.
If the Clippers are found guilty of circumventing the cap, the penalties could be severe: loss of draft picks, multi-million-dollar fines, suspensions for executives, and even the voiding of Leonard’s contract. But if the league is seen as soft-pedaling the investigation, the damage to its credibility could be just as significant.
As the 2025–26 season tips off, the Clippers’ on-court performance may temporarily distract from the scandal. But behind the scenes, the perception of bias in the league office ensures that this story is far from over.
