The noise around the Los Angeles Clippers isn’t just about investigations anymore. It’s getting personal. And now, years after the fact, Patrick Beverley is dragging a handshake agreement back into the spotlight at the exact moment the franchise can least afford it. Because this isn’t just about money. It’s about a promise that, according to Beverley, never showed up.
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“I’m gonna keep saying it,” Beverley said. “The Clippers owe me 94 basketball courts.” That claim traces back to his 2019 free agency decision. Beverley signed a three-year, $40 million deal to stay in LA. However, by his own account, that wasn’t the best offer on the table.
He says he turned down a larger deal from the Sacramento Kings. And the reason wasn’t just basketball. “I signed my contract — a three-year, $40 million deal — and they told me, ‘Pat, we gonna get you those 94 courts.’” That promise, he says, came directly from Ballmer during a meeting in Marina del Rey. For Beverley, it wasn’t fluff. It was impact. It was legacy.
Years later, he’s still waiting.
Patrick Beverley calls out Steve Ballmer and the LA Clippers for bad business after them potentially voiding Kawhi's deal. He says when he signed his $40 million deal, they promised to build him courts. He’s missing 90 courts. New York, Chicago, LA, and Philly are all waiting.
The tone hasn’t softened with time. If anything, it’s escalated. “I ain’t seen one motherf—— court.”
“I got kids in Chicago that need a court, kids in New York that need a court. I played in Philly — they need courts. LA need courts.” He’s repeated versions of this story before, dating back to 2024 on his podcast. But the 2026 version hits differently. It’s louder. Broader. And far less patient. “They owe me 90 courts.”
That number shift is part of the story too. Beverley previously acknowledged that some courts may have been built early on. Now, his messaging has hardened into something simpler: the promise, as he sees it, was never fulfilled in any meaningful way.
And importantly, there’s no public confirmation from the Clippers or Ballmer backing the existence of this agreement. No documents. No statements. Just Beverley’s repeated, unwavering account.
Still, he isn’t backing off. “Y’all talking about aspirations and medicine and all that sh–. What about my motherf—— courts?”
Kawhi Leonard and Steve Ballmer’s alleged Aspiration connection
Beverley didn’t bring this up in isolation. He tied it directly to what’s happening right now with Kawhi Leonard. “I hope you get through what you getting through… but if you not gonna get through it, Kawhi, let them motherf—— know, y’all owe Pat 90 courts too.”
That line lands differently because of the ongoing NBA investigation. The league has been reviewing whether the Clippers and Ballmer used external business relationships to structure additional compensation for Leonard outside standard salary cap rules. At the center of that probe is Leonard’s deal with Aspiration.
The numbers are significant. A $28 million endorsement agreement. Another $20 million in equity tied to the same company. All of it overlapping with a massive Clippers partnership worth around $300 million.
That alone raised eyebrows. Then came Ballmer’s personal $50 million investment into Aspiration. Individually, each move has an explanation. Together, they created a pattern the league felt was worth investigating. No wrongdoing has been proven. Every party involved has denied violations. The investigation, which began in September 2025, is still ongoing due to its complexity.
But perception matters. And Beverley’s story feeds directly into that perception.
Imago
Apr 5, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) warms up before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
On its own, Beverley’s claim is unverifiable. There’s no hard evidence confirming the “94 courts” handshake deal beyond his word. However, that’s not really the point anymore.
What matters is timing. The Clippers are already under scrutiny for how they operate behind closed doors. Questions are being asked about financial structures, partnerships, and competitive fairness. Now, layered on top of that, is a former player publicly alleging a broken promise tied to his contract decision.
Even if the two situations are unrelated, they don’t feel separate. Beverley made that connection explicit. And once that narrative exists, it’s hard to contain. Because now the conversation isn’t just about Kawhi Leonard’s deal.
It’s about trust. And until the NBA wraps up its investigation, and unless the Clippers directly address Beverley’s claims, that pressure isn’t going anywhere.
