Kawhi Leonard finds himself at the center of a major NBA scandal, but the Clippers may not be the first team with which he tried to secure illegal dealings. In a 2019 report from Bleacher Report’s Tyler Conway, it was revealed that Leonard made illegal requests to the Lakers before being refused by Jeanie Buss. With his latest scandal, the entire story is being viewed in a new light.
“Kawhi Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, reportedly had a list of requirements necessary for the reigning Finals MVP to sign with the Lakers that was exorbitant enough to make any precocious child blush,” wrote Conway.
It wasn’t just exclusive endorsement deals that Leonard’s camp asked for. He reportedly tried to secure a number of perks, including a partial ownership stake, that were all forbidden under the NBA’s CBA.
“Robertson wanted Leonard to receive a partial ownership share, private plane access, a house, and a guaranteed amount of endorsement money to secure his commitment,” added Conway. “All of those requests would have violated the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement and were thus denied by Lakers governor Jeanie Buss.”
This story goes back to the summer of 2019, after Kawhi Leonard led the Raptors to a championship. Apparently, Leonard made similar demands of the Raptors and their owner, Larry Tannenbaum, who tried his best to appease Leonard, only to watch him sign with the Clippers later that summer.
“When Kawhi signed with the Clippers, the Toronto owner Larry Tannebaum was beside himself because he believed he bent over backwards for Kawhi – including calling three sponsors to meet Kawhi’s demand of an extra $15 million in endorsement money,” wrote John Gambadoro.
Interestingly, the NBA investigated these reports at the time and issued no penalty, citing a lack of intent or understanding of the CBA restrictions. As for the Clippers, the league could not find any evidence that they had agreed to any illegal requests, so no action could be taken.
Fast forward to today, and the latest evidence shows that Kawhi may have had an illegal endorsement deal the entire time. It explains why he’s been so loyal to the Clippers all these years, and why he chose the Clippers over a deal with the Lakers.
For a franchise that prioritizes star power, the Lakers were not willing to risk breaking CBA rules and being subject to massive penalties. Even for Kawhi Leonard, who was coming off a championship and Finals MVP, Jeanie Buss maintained her team’s integrity, and it paid off.
Not only did the Lakers win the championship the next summer, but they also have two superstars signed under fully compliant, legal contracts. Now, the Lakers get to avoid the fallout as their intercity rivals get exposed in a scandal that could come with major consequences.
Nobody knows how this will impact Kawhi Leonard, but it seems his “Uncle Dennis” has gotten both his nephew and the Clippers organization into some seriously hot water. It’s not a good look at all for Kawhi and his camp, and one has to wonder why Leonard would let his uncle make such risky demands on his behalf.
