The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich)

Episode: Serious Circumventing by Clippers?
Date: September 4, 2025
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Overview

This episode of “Covino & Rich” addresses a rapidly unfolding scandal involving the Los Angeles Clippers and star player Kawhi Leonard. Hosts Steve Covino and Rich Davis, joined by guest contributors like Pablo Torre and Dan Beyer, dive deep into new revelations that team owner Steve Ballmer allegedly paid Leonard $28 million through a dubious company to skirt the NBA's salary cap. The discussion is lively, blending humor, pointed opinion, and skepticism as the story’s broader implications for the NBA unfold.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Kawhi Leonard “No-Show Job” Allegation

• Pablo Torre’s Report: Pablo Torre unveils allegations that Ballmer paid Leonard $28 million via a Ballmer-owned company tied to a “tree planting” operation (“Aspiration”) for essentially no work, in an apparent attempt to pay Leonard outside of his NBA contract ([06:00]-[07:54]).

  • Quote (Steve Covino, 06:00): “Now he's unveiled this Kawhi Leonard story where he reportedly was paid $28 million for a no show job. That's the headline… a way to get around the NBA salary cap.”

• Covino clarifies the difference between a “loophole” and actual rules violations. This is not a clever workaround but straight-up forbidden under NBA bylaws.

• Main Facts ([07:54]-[08:19]):

  • Fake “tree planting company”
  • No real work performed by Leonard
  • Ballmer is accused of using personal wealth and corporate entities to pay more than allowed.

• Potential Ramifications ([08:32]-[08:39]):

  • Large fines (up to $4.5 million)
  • Loss of first-round draft picks
  • Possible voiding of contracts

2. Ethics and Attitude Toward Rule-Breaking

• Rich frames the debate philosophically: are you a rules-follower or rule-breaker?
  • Quote (Rich Davis, 08:58): “Rule breakers. People that are like, you know, rules are, you know, a mild suggestion... and then other people that are like, I'm a rules guy.”
• Covino draws the line between “pushing the rules” and “stomping over the line,” emphasizing that this case is clearly the latter ([10:02]).
  • Quote (Steve Covino, 10:02): “This is stomping over the line. This is just straight up. You paid a guy $20 million extra to guarantee that he's on your team.”

3. Is the Risk Worth It for Ballmer/Clippers?

• The hosts theorize Ballmer might accept any fine as the cost of doing business, akin to Michael Jordan's sneaker fines being paid by Nike ([32:45]-[33:15]).
  • Quote (Steve Covino, 33:15): “That’s the business moves of a guy like Steve Ballmer... he knows what the repercussions are and he knows that, you know, maybe he could swindle his way out of this if the story breaks.”
• They debate whether any punishment (fine or draft pick loss) is a deterrent given Ballmer's fortune and the Clippers' lack of recent playoff success.

4. Comparison to Other Rule-Breaking and Scandals in Sports

• Covino raises historical precedents: Jerry Jones changing NFL economics, Deflategate, MLB’s Spider Tack soap opera, and the Knicks' rumored attempts to sign Jordan via third-party endorsements ([11:59], [41:21]).
• The line between marketing, legitimate endorsement deals, and under-the-table payments is examined by Dan Beyer ([42:13]-[43:03]).

5. Nature and Weakness of the Cover-Up

• The panel ridicules the sham “tree planting company” for being so lazily constructed that it insults the league and fans ([19:00]-[19:45]).
  • Quote (Rich Davis, 19:00): “By how simplistic it is. Like really like a half made up Tree Company. $28 million… like try harder, convince me more.”
• Pablo Torre further clarifies the two shell companies involved: “KL2 Aspire” (allegedly managed by Leonard) and “Aspiration” (Ballmer’s entity) ([20:07]), highlighting clear signs something was amiss.

6. Bigger Sports and Cultural Questions

• Would this be a bigger scandal if it involved the Lakers or Celtics? Does team prestige affect public outrage? ([21:41])
• The investigative journalism aspect is praised; Torre’s work could spark more cases and broader NBA reform ([13:39], [43:28]).

7. NBA & Clippers Statements / Next Steps

• The Clippers deny any wrongdoing, insisting their relationship with Aspiration ended in 2023 and calling allegations “false” ([34:49]).
• The investigation was reportedly sparked by a whistleblower from Aspiration’s finance department ([35:13]).
• Speculation on possible outcomes: removal of Ballmer as owner is deemed unlikely given lack of precedent and Ballmer’s reputation compared to figures like Dan Snyder ([39:09]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Steve Covino, [06:00]: “Now he's unveiled this Kawhi Leonard story where he reportedly was paid $28 million for a no show job… a way to get around the NBA salary cap.”
• Pablo Torre, [07:52]: “Tory laid out the alleged Scandal… that Leonard was paid $28 million through a company owned by Ballmer, who owns the Clippers. If you don't know, to essentially do nothing.”
• Rich Davis, [19:00]: “By how simplistic it is. Like really like a half made up Tree Company. $28 million… try harder, convince me more.”
• Steve Covino, [32:53]: “To circumvent the NBA salary cap, then he's not willing to pay up a fine to get the player he wants. That doesn't mean anything to Steve Ballmer. A fine and a draft pick. He got Kawhi Leonard, you know what.”
• Dan Beyer, [41:21]: “CBS Sports did an article off of this and they pointed to in the mid-1990s the Knicks were trying to get Michael Jordan and… pay him that way… but… that was a way that the Knicks who [had] a certain amount of money to pay… maybe try to work around.”

Key Timestamps

• [06:00] - [08:19]: Pablo Torre and hosts explain the Kawhi “no-show job” and how it was meant to circumvent the salary cap.
• [08:32], [08:39]: Discussion of potential NBA penalties
• [10:02]: Drawing the line between bending and breaking rules
• [11:59]: Sports precedent—Jerry Jones, performance-enhancing drugs, etc.
• [13:39]: Importance of investigative journalism in sports
• [19:00]: Critique of weak cover-up (Aspiration, fake company)
• [20:07]: Explanation of “KL2 Aspire” and “Aspiration” shell companies
• [21:41]: Does it matter the Clippers aren’t a marquee franchise?
• [32:45]: Is Ballmer’s attitude “worth it to break the rules?”
• [33:15]: Parallels to Nike/Jordan and calculated “cost of doing business”
• [34:49]: Clippers’ official response
• [35:13]: Whistleblower/inside source origins
• [39:09]: Doubling down: will Ballmer be forced to sell?

Tone & Style

• Fast-paced, humorous, and openly opinionated with a focus on both the absurdity and seriousness of the allegations.
• Covino & Rich bounce between pop-cultural riffs, Philly/NY banter, and genuine sports analysis, often interjecting with jokes and “Carl” shout-outs for their listeners.
• Pablo Torre’s contributions lend prestige and clarity to the episode’s investigative journalism angle.

Summary for First-Time Listeners

This episode is the definitive breakdown of the explosive Kawhi Leonard/Steve Ballmer “no-show job” scandal. Covino & Rich, with input from Pablo Torre and Dan Beyer, untangle the intricate (and seemingly brazen) alleged scheme to funnel $28 million to Leonard outside the NBA’s salary cap. They parse out the broader implications for league fairness, if the Clippers’ second-rate status has muted outrage, and whether Ballmer’s business savvy makes him guilty or just ruthless. The hosts’ irreverent tone keeps it entertaining while tackling a complex, changing story that could have ripple effects across sports.

If you want to stay up to date on NBA controversies, the business of pro sports, or just want to laugh along as two radio vets roast a “half-assed $28 million tree company,” this episode delivers.