Clippers Name John Gibson Interim Governor and CEO Amid NBA Penalties
The short version
- Clippers named John Gibson interim governor and CEO, per ESPN's Shams Charania
- Ballmer and Gillian Zucker suspended one year; Lawrence Frank suspended six months
- Ballmer fined $30 million; team also forfeited draft picks
- Gibson is a longtime Clippers season ticket holder and former DLA Piper litigation partner
- Ballmer nominated Gibson, and the NBA approved the appointment
Los Angeles lawyer and longtime season ticket holder John Gibson will oversee the franchise during Steve Ballmer's one-year suspension.
The Los Angeles Clippers have named attorney John Gibson as interim governor and CEO, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The move comes as the franchise works through the fallout from NBA discipline for salary cap circumvention.
Owner Steve Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker were each suspended for one year, while president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank received a six-month suspension. The league also fined Ballmer $30 million and stripped the team of draft picks. Ballmer reportedly nominated Gibson for the interim role, and the NBA has approved the appointment.
Gibson, a Los Angeles-based lawyer, was a litigation partner at DLA Piper and earned degrees from Harvard and the University of Michigan Law School. He has been a Clippers season ticket holder for years. In a statement, he said he was honored to take on the responsibility.
As interim governor and CEO, Gibson will oversee both the basketball and business sides of the organization while the suspensions run their course. Ballmer recently accepted the league's punishment in a statement, ruling out a legal challenge.
Written by the Matchday Live desk from reporting by Yahoo Sports.
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