The NBA approved a lawyer from Los Angeles John Gibson how ClippersActing Governor and CEO after he was nominated Steve Ballmer– a source told ESPN’s Shamsu Charanya (Link to Twitter).
Ballmer, the governor and majority owner of the Clippers, was suspended from all team-related activities for the year following the NBA investigation led by law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, found the Clippers skirted the salary cap to pay the former star forward Kawhi Leonard through several “no-show” endorsement agreements.
The Clippers confirmed Gibson’s appointment in a press release (Link to Twitter via Law Murray of The Athletic). Gibson’s tenure will begin immediately, and he will oversee the team’s business and basketball operations, as well as represent the team at NBA Board of Governors meetings.
“I am honored to take on this responsibility and grateful for the opportunity to serve an organization that I have supported for many years,” said Gibson, a longtime Clippers season ticket holder.The Clippers have talented players, coaches and staff, an extraordinary home in the Intuit Dome, and passionate Clippers fans who, like me, care deeply about this team.
“I will focus on supporting our people, providing sustainable leadership and helping the organization continue to move forward.”
According to the release, Gibson has more than 35 years of legal experience and was a “nationally recognized attorney and litigation partner at DLA Piper” in Los Angeles before joining the Clippers.
It is interesting that Ballmer did not name Dennis Wongthe team’s sole minority owner and alternate governor, as interim governor. Although he was not punished by league, Wong according to reports played a key role in funneling money to Leonard in December 2022, making the investment in Aspiration even though its independent auditor, KPMG, had resigned and the company was already facing millions in lawsuits over missed payments.
Aspiration was at the center of the first salary cap circumvention scandal informed last September by investigative journalist and podcaster Pablo Torre. The Clippers are still the subject of a A Justice Department investigation as a result of their association with Leonard.
