Clippers, Leonard Had Sponsorship Deal With Daktronics: Report
Daktronics installed the Intuit Dome’s halo board.
The NBA is examining potential cap circumvention surrounding the Los Angeles Clippers and star player Kawhi Leonard, which may have involved an undisclosed endorsement deal with Daktronics. This revelation added complexity to an already ongoing investigation by the NBA, which began 11 months ago. The Clippers' $2 billion Intuit Dome arena, completed in 2024, featured a halo board installed by Daktronics, valued at $100 million.
Additionally, in the fall, the NBA had uncovered a previous endorsement deal with Aspiration, an environmental startup. According to multiple sources, Kawhi Leonard served as a spokesperson for Daktronics, with the contract reportedly worth "millions of dollars." However, the NBA, Clippers, and Daktronics have yet to comment on the matter.
The ongoing probe, which is being led by New York law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Kratz, has also uncovered potential issues with Leonard's second deal, though the specifics are unclear. Should the NBA determine that Leonard broke league rules, Commissioner Adam Silver has the authority to impose fines, forfeit draft picks, or void Leonard's contract, which is set to expire in the coming year.
The trade between the Clippers and Toronto Raptors, originally slated to occur on June 30, has been put on hold until the investigation concludes. Silver had previously stated that the trade would not be delayed due to the investigation, as the teams mutually decided to postpone the deal pending resolution.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
