Kawhi Leonard Receives Safety Assurance as NBA Legends Mount Pressure on Clippers Brass

The ongoing investigation into Kawhi Leonard’s financial dealings has sparked concern across the NBA, but the message from league circles is clear: Leonard is not expected to bear the brunt of any punishment. The probe centers on an endorsement agreement linked to a Steve Ballmer-backed company that collapsed earlier this year, raising questions about whether it acted as an undeclared financial incentive.

This matter comes as the Clippers navigate a tense period off the court. Their payroll for 2025-26 is high, with limited room to maneuver due to a lack of draft picks, and an investigation of this magnitude risks further tightening those margins. Yet, some stress that precedent rarely punishes players in such cases; historically, sanctions have focused on team executives and contractual irregularities.

Former NBA figures have rallied behind Leonard’s position. On Road Trippin, Kendrick Perkins defended the forward, saying, “Any player would have taken that… that shouldn’t be on Kawhi Leonard… that’s why you have an agent in place. Their job is to protect you and get you max amount of dollars.”

Richard Jefferson reinforced this view with blunt honesty: “Players don’t get in trouble for it. That’s all I’m saying. Players don’t—like again, we don’t know if this to be true… but the player rarely gets in trouble for it.” Both emphasized that stars seldom micromanage every clause in their contracts, relying instead on agents to handle such intricacies.

(Developing story …)

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