The Los Angeles Clippers’ Media Day was supposed to be a celebration of a new season, but instead it turned into another flashpoint in the ongoing Aspiration scandal surrounding Kawhi Leonard.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne revealed that Clippers PR personnel physically took the microphone from her after she pressed Leonard about his controversial endorsement deal, raising fresh concerns about transparency and accountability.
Shelburne explained on ESPN Radio that she had prepared multiple questions about Leonard’s ties to Aspiration, the now-bankrupt financial company in which Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was a major investor. Bankruptcy filings revealed Leonard was owed millions, fueling allegations that the deal may have been a vehicle for salary-cap circumvention.
“Somebody [from Clippers PR] kind of reached out and grabbed the mic from me, it was like, ‘OK, you’re done now,’” Shelburne said.
She added that while she managed to get one question in, five or six other reporters who had coordinated to follow up with Aspiration-related questions were never called on. Instead, the next questions came from team-affiliated media, focusing on Leonard’s health and basketball goals.
According to Shelburne, reporters had agreed beforehand to “tag team” the issue, ensuring Leonard would be asked about every angle of the Aspiration deal. But after her exchange, the Clippers quickly pivoted to softer topics and ended Leonard’s availability early.
“We had all talked before the press conference, and I said, ‘OK, we’re all going to ask Aspiration questions, right? Because this is his first public statement. Let’s cover all the bases here,’” Shelburne revealed.
Ramona Shelburne says Clippers PR grabbed her mic on media day after she questioned Kawhi Leonard about Aspiration 😳
“There were 5 or 6 other reporters in the room… they all had their hands raised and weren’t being called on.”
(Via @ESPNLosAngeles) pic.twitter.com/mJLMEunvDh
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) October 2, 2025
The optics were damning. Cutting off one of the NBA’s most respected reporters and shutting out others only reinforced the perception that the Clippers are avoiding accountability. As one columnist noted, if the team wanted to appear innocent, “they’re not doing a very good job of it”.
The incident comes after weeks of damaging reporting, including multiple episodes of Pablo Torre Finds Out dedicated to the scandal. With mounting evidence and growing skepticism around the league, the Clippers’ decision to silence questions rather than address them head-on has only deepened suspicions.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has already acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and faces pressure to ensure a fair investigation. For the Clippers, the PR misstep at Media Day may prove as costly as the allegations themselves, painting the franchise as evasive at a time when transparency is critical.
