LA Clippers owner and billionaire Steve Ballmer has vehemently denied allegations of orchestrating a secret multi-million dollar payment to Kawhi Leonard's camp during the 2019 free agency period that brought the star to the franchise.
The explosive claims emerged from a lawsuit filed by Johnny Wilkes, who alleges he was promised $2.5 million for his role as a 'middleman' in facilitating Leonard's move to the Clippers. The suit further alleges that Ballmer and the Clippers' former executive, Jerry West, authorised a confidential $2.8 million payment to Leonard's uncle and advisor, Dennis Robertson.
In a fiery response, Ballmer's legal team dismissed the suit as 'complete nonsense' and a 'desperate money grab', stating unequivocally that neither the Clippers organisation nor Ballmer made any such payments. The defence portrays Wilkes as an opportunist attempting to capitalise on the team's success.
The lawsuit, which seeks over $2.5 million in damages, has sent ripples through the NBA world. It centres on the high-stakes recruitment of Leonard, a move that fundamentally shifted the league's power balance and delivered the Clippers their first-ever conference finals appearance.
Legal experts suggest Wilkes faces a steep challenge in proving his claims, given the lack of a formal written agreement. The case hinges on whether a verbal promise, allegedly made in a restaurant meeting, constitutes a binding contract.
This scandal threatens to cast a shadow over one of the NBA's most celebrated modern front-office coups, raising questions about the behind-the-scenes dealings that shape superstar movements.
