Attorneys for Steve Ballmer have filed to dismiss a lawsuit accusing the LA Clippers owner of fraud related to payments to Kawhi Leonard. The suit, filed by Aspiration investors, alleges Ballmer funneled money through the now-bankrupt green banking company to circumvent the NBA's salary cap. Ballmer's legal team calls the claims 'sensational' and 'patently false.'

The lawsuit originated from investors who lost money when Aspiration collapsed. They amended their complaint in November 2025 to include Ballmer after reports from journalist Pablo Torre. Those reports suggested Ballmer's $50 million investment in Aspiration was a scheme to pay Leonard outside the NBA's financial rules. The Clippers have consistently denied any salary cap circumvention.

Ballmer's filing argues he is also a victim of Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg's fraud, having lost his own investment. Sanberg has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and faces sentencing in early 2026. The court will hear Ballmer's dismissal motion in March 2026, a case that pits investor recovery claims against a high-profile owner's defense.