Leaked Text from Kawhi's Uncle Could Harm the Clippers

New Evidence in the Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Clippers Investigation

Recent developments in the ongoing investigation involving Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers have revealed new evidence that could have significant implications for the team and its management. This information comes from the popular podcast "Pablo Torre Finds Out," which has been closely following the story.

One of the key pieces of evidence uncovered is a text message sent by Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, to Joe Sanberg, co-founder of the now-bankrupt company Aspiration. The message was obtained by Torre and suggests that there may be more to the story regarding how Leonard's deals were structured.

Aspiration is alleged to have provided Leonard with a "no-show job" as part of a lucrative endorsement deal. This arrangement is said to have potentially helped circumvent the NBA salary cap. Sanberg was arrested in March 2025 for conspiring to defraud an investment fund and later pleaded guilty to defrauding investors of over $248 million.

The NBA has retained the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to conduct an investigation into these matters before any potential punishment can be decided. No official decision is expected before the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, which the Clippers will host at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

The text message from Robertson to Sanberg reads: "Good morning Joe, hope you had a wonderful weekend. Just a heads up things are still dragging. Mike has the contract for about 14 days now, haven't heard back." According to Torre's reporting, the "Mike" mentioned is Michael Shuckerow, Aspiration's chief legal officer and chief compliance officer.

This text is believed to reference an additional $20 million in equity stake from Sanberg’s personal holdings, which was first reported by Boston Sports Journal. However, Shuckerow, Sanberg, and Robertson have all failed to respond to requests for comment.

It is important to note that Robertson is not authorized to negotiate deals on Leonard's behalf after a tumultuous free agency period in 2019. Leonard is represented by Mitch Frankel for his basketball-related agreements.

In 2019, reports from Zach Lowe and Brian Windhorst highlighted frustrations at the NBA's Board of Governors meeting regarding family members of players seeking benefits outside the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). In response, the NBA's Board of Governors unanimously passed stricter provisions and higher fines for unauthorized agreements.

A new rule was implemented, as explained by Amick: "Sources say the NBA has asked the National Basketball Players Association to assist with this problem as well by re-emphasizing the rules of representation with its 400-plus players: Only certified agents are authorized to negotiate directly with teams. Translation: No more relatives leading the way, unless they’re also certified as an agent."

Amick was told by one governor and one prominent agent that this change was largely due to concerns raised by Robertson.

Baxter Holmes detailed some of the other requests made by Robertson that the Clippers have since approved:

• Robertson wanted Leonard to initially live in San Diego rather than in Los Angeles, with a helicopter commute. He later moved to Los Angeles.
• He requested that Leonard skip some media obligations and team community events, which the Clippers agreed to.
• He wanted the team to promise to market Leonard individually, which the Clippers also agreed to.
• He wanted Leonard to bring some of his own people into the organization, which the Clippers also approved.

A team source disputes the existence of some of these requests and the tone of others.

Perhaps most notably, Robertson insisted on a strict protocol for public discussions about Leonard, stating that nothing should be said unless absolutely necessary.

It remains unclear exactly what types of agreements Robertson made, whether any were independent from Frankel, or if any were outside the scope of the CBA. However, if deals were negotiated directly between the Clippers and Robertson, as suggested by his interactions with Aspiration, it raises critical questions about what he may have asked for and what the Clippers provided.

If the Clippers did comply with any of Robertson's requests that violated the CBA, it could lead to serious consequences down the line.