Steve Ballmer Turns His Back on Kawhi Leonard After One Final Straw

The Los Angeles Clippers are facing a crossroads. According to recent reports, team owner Steve Ballmer is done with Kawhi Leonard and is seeking to cut ties with the often-injured star forward. A combination of ongoing legal challenges, injury-plagued seasons, and deteriorating internal relationships has prompted this dramatic shift in organizational direction.

What began as a high-profile partnership between a billionaire tech mogul and a two-time NBA champion is now unraveling amid controversy and frustration. The dream of bringing an NBA title to the Clippers with Leonard as the face of the franchise appears to be over.

A $28 million scandal that changed everything

At the center of the controversy is a $28 million endorsement deal involving Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration, a financial company that has since declared bankruptcy. The deal, often referred to as a “no-show arrangement”, allegedly paid Leonard despite little to no promotional involvement.

What makes this issue more complicated is Steve Ballmer’s personal investment in Aspiration. The Clippers’ owner reportedly sank $50 million into the company. However, Ballmer has publicly denied any direct connection between the team’s activities and the Leonard endorsement.

The NBA has launched a formal investigation, with Commissioner Adam Silver stating that the league will require solid evidence before issuing any sanctions. However, the scandal has already damaged the public image of both the player and the organization, intensifying speculation that the Clippers are ready to move in a new direction.

Kawhi Leonard’s tumultuous Clippers tenure

When Kawhi Leonard joined the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019, expectations were sky-high. Alongside Paul George, Leonard was supposed to bring a championship to the Clippers’ long-suffering fanbase. Instead, his time in Los Angeles has been marred by a series of major injuries and inconsistent availability.

Leonard’s injury history with the Clippers includes:

• A torn right ACL during the 2021 playoffs

• A torn right meniscus in 2023

• Chronic knee inflammation that sidelined him for large parts of the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons

In total, Leonard has missed nearly 290 regular-season games over eight seasons, a staggering number for a supposed franchise cornerstone. These recurring health issues have made it increasingly difficult for the Clippers to build any consistency, especially during the playoffs.

For Steve Ballmer, the repeated setbacks and limited return on investment have likely contributed to his frustration and desire to sever ties with the former Finals MVP.

Steve Ballmer’s growing impatience

Sources close to the organization suggest that Steve Ballmer’s patience has worn thin. Known for his high-energy persona and deep pockets, Ballmer has not hesitated to invest in the Clippers’ success—building a new arena, hiring high-profile executives, and signing elite players.

But despite these efforts, the results have been underwhelming. The Clippers have failed to make an NBA Finals appearance since Leonard’s arrival. The promise of a new era has instead devolved into uncertainty and disappointment.

Ballmer’s apparent decision to move on from Leonard may not only be rooted in the Aspiration controversy, but also in a desire to reshape the team’s culture and strategy. He is believed to be looking for a fresh start—one without the distractions, legal entanglements, and injury baggage that have followed Leonard in recent years.

The ghost of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Another painful reminder of what could have been for the Clippers is the ascension of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the player they traded to Oklahoma City to acquire Paul George—Leonard’s preferred co-star.

Since the trade, Gilgeous-Alexander has blossomed into one of the NBA’s brightest stars. He recently led the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA championship and secured a $285 million supermax extension through 2031. Meanwhile, the Clippers remain titleless and mired in turmoil.

This stark contrast between Gilgeous-Alexander’s meteoric rise and the Clippers’ stagnation has intensified scrutiny on the Leonard–George era. It has also made Ballmer’s decision to part ways with Leonard seem more reasonable in hindsight.

Legal fallout and NBA investigation

While Steve Ballmer is eager to turn the page, he must also navigate the legal implications of the ongoing NBA investigation into alleged salary cap circumvention. If the league determines that the Clippers misrepresented financial dealings or used backdoor methods to compensate Leonard, the organization could face hefty fines, loss of draft picks, or even suspensions.

The outcome of the investigation will likely influence how quickly and cleanly the Clippers can move on from Leonard. Until then, both sides remain in an uneasy limbo—publicly silent but privately preparing for a breakup.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has reiterated that any disciplinary actions will be evidence-based. Still, the spotlight remains on Los Angeles, and the Clippers may already be planning for a future without their star forward.

The end of an era for the Clippers

With all factors considered, the writing is on the wall: Steve Ballmer is done with Kawhi Leonard. Whether it’s the multi-million dollar scandal, Leonard’s inability to stay healthy, or the team’s failure to meet championship expectations, the Clippers appear ready to hit the reset button.

This shift marks the end of a high-stakes experiment that never reached its intended conclusion. The Leonard era in Los Angeles began with promise but is closing with disappointment, controversy, and uncertainty.

What comes next for the Clippers remains to be seen. Will they attempt to trade Leonard, buy out his contract, or let him walk in free agency? Can the organization rebuild around younger talent, or will they pursue another star? One thing is clear: the current partnership between Ballmer and Leonard is no longer sustainable.

Conclusion: A necessary change for the Clippers’ future

The NBA landscape is always evolving, and the Los Angeles Clippers are now at a pivotal moment. With Steve Ballmer’s desire to part ways with Kawhi Leonard becoming increasingly apparent, the organization is likely to undergo significant changes in the months ahead.

As the NBA’s investigation continues and the legal and financial ramifications of the Aspiration deal unfold, the Clippers must carefully navigate a potential exit from their partnership with Leonard. For Ballmer, it’s about more than basketball—it’s about rebuilding trust, restoring credibility, and reimagining the future of a franchise that has been stuck in neutral for too long.

The end of the Leonard era may be painful, but it could also mark the beginning of a new chapter—one driven by health, consistency, and a renewed commitment to long-term success.