Former Aspiration CEO disputes claim that Kawhi Leonard endorsement was a 'no‑show' deal

Former Aspiration chief executive Andrei Cherny denied reports that the company’s endorsement agreement with Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard was a "no‑show" contract, saying the deal included specific obligations Leonard had to fulfill and allowed Aspiration to terminate the arrangement if those obligations were not met.

Cherny, who resigned from Aspiration in 2022, wrote on X on Sept. 12 that "the claim that the contract with Kawhi Leonard as a 'no show' contract is false," adding that the agreement "contained three pages of extensive obligations that Leonard had to perform" and that the contract allowed Aspiration to terminate the deal if Leonard failed to meet those obligations. He also said a "beliefs" provision in the contract was standard in celebrity endorsements and did not bar on‑camera appearances.

Cherny’s statements came after a recent report by Pablo Torre that said Leonard received a four‑year, $28 million endorsement from Aspiration that amounted to a no‑show deal. Torre followed the report with public remarks that he had sought to question Cherny about the contract, saying he requested an on‑camera interview via LinkedIn and later emailed a series of detailed questions.

Torre replied on X to Cherny’s post, saying, "Hi Andrei — Your tweet is, obviously, false. @pablofindsout requested an on‑camera interview with you via LinkedIn. We then e‑mailed you a series of detailed questions. (You told me they got lost in your spam filter.)" Torre also posted a screenshot referencing earlier reporting that suggested Cherny had been eyed by federal investigators during his 2024 congressional primary campaign in Arizona.

Cherny responded to Torre on X, writing that by "past 10 days" he had meant the period since Torre’s podcast and that he had previously characterized earlier coverage as "bad reporting." He pointed to the Department of Justice charges in the Aspiration fraud case and said those charges clarified what happened and who the fraudster was. Aspiration co‑founder Joe Sanberg pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of defrauding investors.

Cherny said he did not recall conversations about the NBA salary cap before he signed the deal with Leonard and that there had been multiple internal discussions about activities Aspiration planned to undertake with Leonard once the 2022‑23 season began. He added he could not speak to what happened after he left the company.

The Clippers issued a statement last week saying the team ended its relationship with Aspiration during the 2022‑23 season after the company defaulted on its obligations. The statement said, "Neither the Clippers nor Mr. Ballmer was aware of any improper activity by Aspiration or its co‑founder until after the government instituted its investigation. The team and Mr. Ballmer stand ready to assist law enforcement in any way they can." Owner Steve Ballmer has denied knowingly circumventing the NBA salary cap.

The NBA has opened an investigation into the matter and retained the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to assist. The league used the same firm in prior probes of former team owners Donald Sterling and Robert Sarver.

Torre’s reporting, Cherny’s public statements and the Clippers’ response have left several factual disputes in the public record: Cherny says the contract imposed clear obligations and could be terminated if not met; Torre maintains his reporting and says he sought direct comment from Cherny. The league’s investigation is ongoing, and Cherny said he could not comment on actions taken after his departure from Aspiration.

No enforcement action or disciplinary finding by the NBA has been announced. The parties involved have provided differing accounts of the contract and the communications surrounding it, and the investigation by outside counsel and the league will aim to establish the facts.