The Joe Pomp Show How a Fraudulent Startup Pulled the Clippers Into Chaos
Sep 5, 2025
Ethan Strauss, a Substack writer and host of Random Offense, dives into the chaotic scandal involving Kawhi Leonard and Steve Ballmer's Clippers. He unpacks the web of deceit connected to a fraudulent startup, exploring its profound impact on NBA ethics. The conversation touches on financial power's influence in sports, the thin line between greed and corporate responsibility, and the ethical dilemmas faced by billionaires. Strauss raises critical questions about the integrity and accountability in an increasingly complex sports landscape, making for a riveting discussion.
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Wealth Changed The NBA's Rules
- Steve Ballmer's wealth distorted NBA dynamics and prompted extra rules like the second apron to limit elite spending.
- His ownership changed the ecosystem by forcing measures to prevent a single owner from dominating payrolls.
Aspiration's Fraud Mechanics
- Joe Pompliano summarized Aspiration's fraud: inflated cash claims, fake letters of intent, and celebrity endorsement schemes to mask revenue.
- He noted co-founders engaged in Ponzi-like practices and one was convicted and faces jail time.
Scammer-First Plausible Theory
- The Aspiration-Kawhi arrangement could plausibly be a scammer-driven payoff rather than an owner-directed cap circumvention.
- Ballmer may have been introduced to the company and subsequently defrauded like many other investors.