New voices have emerged again surrounding the controversy surrounding the endorsement contract between Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration.

Former Aspiration CEO Andrei Cherny recently publicly denied the claim of a nominal contract on social media, emphasizing that the contract contains clear and extensive performance obligations for Leonard.

The controversy stems from a report by journalist Pablo Torre, who, citing a former Aspiration employee, claimed the four-year, $28 million contract was actually a way for the Los Angeles Clippers to circumvent the NBA salary cap by paying Leonard under the table. The report also claimed Leonard barely fulfilled his endorsement obligations, raising questions about whether the contract was a mere figurehead.

The Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer immediately denied the allegations. Ballmer said he, like other investors, was deceived by Aspiration and stated that if he were in another team, he would also want the league to investigate.

Cherny responded on social media, saying the three-page contract listed a number of tasks Leonard must perform, including marketing activities, community service, and public relations appearances. He emphasized that the contract terms clearly state that if Leonard fails to complete these obligations, the company has the right to terminate the agreement.

In addition, Cherny revealed that this was a contract signed in 2022, and before his departure, he had discussed with executives several times how to implement cooperation with Leonard after the start of the 2022-23 season. He also emphasized that the discussion did not involve the NBA salary cap.

The NBA has confirmed its involvement in the investigation, and league commissioner Adam Silver said independent investigators will determine whether there was any misconduct.