The NBA is investigating allegations made against the LA Clippers and team consultant Jerry West involving the free-agency recruitment of Kawhi Leonard in 2019, the team confirmed in a statement Thursday.
Johnny Wilkes, a man who claims to be close to Leonard and best friends with Kawhi’s uncle Dennis Robertson, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against West and the Clippers, alleging the team consultant owes him $2.5 million in an oral agreement made for helping the Clippers sign Leonard.
“The lawsuit filed by Johnny Wilkes is replete with inaccuracies and the allegations are baseless,” the Clippers said in a statement. “The Clippers are fully cooperating with the NBA in its investigation, which is standard when these types of allegations are made. They are providing the NBA with evidence that the allegations are false.”
According to the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN, Wilkes alleges that he informed West in April 2019 that he was close to Leonard and the All-Star’s uncle. Wilkes and Robertson were teammates at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles. The lawsuit alleges that Wilkes told West he could provide vital information to help the Clippers land Leonard in free agency if the team agreed to pay him $2.5 million for his services. According to the lawsuit, West agreed to the terms. Wilkes is seeking $2.5 million plus damages.
West told TMZ Sports, which first reported the lawsuit, that he denies “engaging in any improper conduct in connection with the signing of Kawhi Leonard.”
Leonard says Wilkes played no role in his decision to sign with the Clippers over the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors.
“Not at all,” Leonard said after the Clippers lost 125-105 to the Utah Jazz in a preseason game Thursday at Staples Center. “That has nothing to do with me. Nobody swayed my mind to go [to the Clippers].”
Leonard said it won’t be the last time someone tries to make money off of him.