NBA rumors: Kawhi Leonard got insane Marvel pitch from Aspiration advertisement team

The NBA’s ongoing investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers’ relationship with Aspiration has revealed another surprising detail. According to NBA reporter Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, documents connected to the investigation included a proposed marketing campaign that would have transformed Kawhi Leonard into a Marvel-style superhero as part of Aspiration’s partnership with the Clippers.

Vorkunov shared images of the proposed campaign Tuesday on Bluesky, showcasing artwork that positioned Leonard as the centerpiece of a superhero-themed advertising initiative.

Aspiration marketing employees did try to build a marketing campaign around Kawhi Leonard but no one is sure why it didn't go anywhere. One idea: to make Kawhi into a Marvel superhero.More on the investigation here (and free to read): www.nytimes.com/athletic/743…

— Mike Vorkunov (@mikevorkunov.bsky.social) 2026-07-14T19:31:15.216Z

The newly surfaced marketing concept is the latest revelation to emerge as the NBA continues investigating the Clippers’ business dealings with Aspiration, an investigation that has already delayed one of the biggest trades of the offseason. Last week, NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Leonard’s blockbuster trade back to the Toronto Raptors had been placed on hold while the league completes its investigation into the Clippers’ relationship with Aspiration.

The investigation stems from reporting by journalist Pablo Torre on Pablo Torre Finds Out, which cited internal documents alleging Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $50 million into Aspiration through his personal LLC in September 2021. That same month, the Clippers announced a reported $300 million sponsorship agreement with Aspiration, making the company the first founding partner of the Intuit Dome.

Additional documents cited by Torre allegedly showed a $28 million endorsement agreement for Leonard that investigators are examining as part of the league’s probe. The reporting has raised allegations that the sponsorship arrangement may have been used to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap.

Following Charania’s report that the Raptors-Clippers trade had been delayed, the Clippers released a statement saying they are cooperating with the NBA’s review while expressing confidence that the investigation will ultimately validate the organization.

“We continue to cooperate fully with the NBA’s review and remain confident the facts will demonstrate that our organization has acted appropriately throughout this process.”

The Clippers also emphasized that the league had not reached any conclusions regarding the investigation.

“The NBA’s review remains ongoing, and we will refrain from further comment until that process is complete.”

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