The NBA has already launched an investigation into Kawhi Leonard’s reported endorsement deal. The situation not only placed the Clippers star under scrutiny but also drew attention to team owner Steve Ballmer’s potential involvement.
According to a Forbes report, Ballmer ranks eighth among the world’s wealthiest individuals with a net worth of $146.5 billion. NBA insider Marc Stein noted that how rival teams respond to the allegations could heavily influence Ballmer’s future with the Clippers.
“Steve Ballmer is already known as the richest owner in the NBA, who has resources that no one else has… I really think how the other teams react to this is going to drive it,” Stein reported.
Journalist Pablo Torre broke the shocking story, alleging that Leonard signed a $28 million “no-show job” endorsement deal with a fraudulent tree-planting company. It’s the same company that Ballmer had secretly funded with $50 million.
However, Ballmer has rejected these claims. Rather, the Clippers owner insisted that he had no knowledge of Leonard’s deal with the company.
Steve Ballmer’s Quick Dismissal Backfires As Torre Cites Seven Sources
Pablo Torre appeared on the Dan Patrick Show after his bombshell report. During his appearance, Torre revealed how the Clippers and Ballmer immediately denied the allegations without realizing the depth of his evidence.
“Steve Ballmer and the Clippers, when we asked them for comment, they said that this was provably false…they did not know at the time that we had over 3,000 pages of documents and seven sources,” Torre said.
The controversy has placed both Ballmer and Leonard in an unfavorable spotlight. Kawhi recently made a public appearance at a men’s tennis semifinal, but fans online showed little mercy in criticizing him.
Ballmer now faces the same public pressure. The situation appears unlikely to cool down until the allegations are either disproven or confirmed.
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