LOS ANGELES —Kawhi Leonardand theLos Angeles Clippersenter the 2025-26 season with expectations of being anNBAtitle contender coming out of the Western Conference.
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While the veteran-laden team prepares to start training camp on Tuesday, Sept. 30, the headlines surrounding the Clippers involve Leonard, team owner Steve Ballmer and anongoing NBA investigationconcerning the team's alleged role in facilitating a $28 million "no-show" endorsement for Leonard with a now-bankrupt sustainability company called Aspiration.
In his first public comments since the league opened the investigation, Leonard denied any wrongdoing.
"It's easy, for us, it's nothing to hide," Leonard said. "It's no wrongdoing there. So we're just going to keep going as any other season. My name might pop up but it is what it is. I've been through times like this before.
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"Just going through the year last year, going through the (Los Angeles wildfire). Soon as I came back, that first game, my house and my community caught on fire. I don't think it's going to be harder than that."
Ballmer did not speak to the media on Monday, but Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' president of basketball operations, spoke on behalf of the team.
"There is no gray area," Frank said about the investigation. "There are no shortcuts. It's clear what we are allowed to do. … We are eager for the whole picture to come out, and we are confident in what they will show."
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Both Leonard and Frank mentioned during their media availability that they welcome the NBA to do the investigation.
Leonard also mentioned that he's not allowing himself to be distracted by the situation.
Leonard admitted that he wasn't surprised by all that's currently happening, saying: "This is old. This is just all new to you guys. That company went bankrupt a while ago."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams, Alonzo Adams Media)
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
Jimmy Butler III, Golden State Warriors
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Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
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Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors
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LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
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Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
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Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
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Derrick White, Boston Celtics
(David Butler II, Imagn Images)
Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and forward Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
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Caleb Martin, Dallas Mavericks
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Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)
Noa Essengue, Chicago Bulls
(David Banks, Imagn Images)
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
Curtis Jones, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
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De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
De’Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
(David Reginek, Imagn Images)
Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
Matisse Thybulle, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)
Jordan Goodwin, Phoenix Suns
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams, Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jimmy Butler III, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Derrick White, Boston Celtics
(David Butler II, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and forward Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Caleb Martin, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Noa Essengue, Chicago Bulls
(David Banks, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Curtis Jones, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
De’Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
(David Reginek, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Matisse Thybulle, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jordan Goodwin, Phoenix Suns
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
With Leonard as the player at the center of the situation, Frank said the six-time All-Star's role hasn't changed much.
The star forward averaged 21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 37 games played last season.
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Investigative reporterPablo Torre released the latest episodein his podcast series regarding the Clippers just hours before the team's media day. In the episode, he provided context and aligned the movement of money between Ballmer, Aspiration founder Joseph Sanberg and Leonard.
He also detailed the various requests made by Leonard's representatives Mitch Frankel and Dennis Robertson, who is Leonard's uncle.
Lawrence was asked if he had any of those experiences dealing with Robertson's reported demands.
"Dennis knows the rules," Lawrence said. "Kawhi knows the rules. Mitch Frankel knows the rules and we know the rules."
