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Clippers Name John Gibson Interim Governor Amid NBA Punishments
Confirmed
In Short: Los Angeles Clippers interim governor John Gibson will lead the team during Steve Ballmer's one-year suspension.
Los Angeles Clippers interim governor John Gibson will lead the team during Steve Ballmer's one-year suspension, announced Monday by the NBA.
Gibson, a Los Angeles-based trial attorney with over 35 years of experience, was nominated by Ballmer and approved by the NBA after a vetting process.
Gibson will oversee the team's business and basketball operations, including representing the Clippers at NBA Board of Governors meetings.
Gibson stated, 'My focus will be on supporting our people, providing steady leadership, and helping the organization continue to move forward.
The Clippers face significant challenges, including the loss of five future first-round picks and a $30 million fine, as well as ongoing investigations by the Department of Justice and federal prosecutors.
The NBA's punishment includes a five-year compliance and monitoring program overseen by the league office.
Gibson's appointment is notable as Ballmer did not choose Dennis Wong, the team's lone minority owner and alternate governor, for the interim role.
The Clippers' violations involved arranging 'no-show' endorsement agreements for former star Kawhi Leonard, according to the NBA's investigation.
Gibson's tenure will be cautious, with the team expected to operate carefully until Frank returns from suspension after next season's trade deadline.
What's confirmed
- By Rory Maher | at September 21, 2026 12:17 pm The NBA has approved Los Angeles-based lawyer John Gibson as the Clippers ’ interim governor and CEO after he was nominated by Steve Ballmer, a source tells Shams Charania of ESPN ( Twitter link ).
- Gibson’s tenure will begin immediately and he will oversee the team’s business and basketball operations on top of representing the team at NBA Board of Governors meetings.
- The Clippers confirmed Gibson’s appointment in a press release ( Twitter link via Law Murray of The Athletic).
What's still developing
- Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was also suspended for six months.
- Gibson will be tasked with helping to keep the team competitive as it looks to put the punishments behind it.
- "I am honored to take on this responsibility and grateful for the opportunity to serve an organization I have supported for many years," Gibson said in a statement.
- The league, in handing down its punishment, said the Clippers "are subject to a compliance and monitoring program overseen by the league office for a period of five years." The content on this site is for entertainment purposes only and CBS Sports makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.
- Ballmer, the governor and majority owner of the Clippers, was suspended from all team-related activities for the next year after an NBA investigation led by the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz found the Clippers circumvented the salary cap to pay former star forward Kawhi Leonard through a handful of “no-show” endorsement deals.
- According to the release, Gibson has more than 35 years of experience in law and was a “nationally recognized trial lawyer and litigation partner at DLA Piper” in L.A. before joining the Clippers.
- He later joined the Clippers and has been a longtime season-ticket holder.
- Gibson spent more than 35 years practicing law and previously worked as a litigation partner at DLA Piper.
- Gibson now becomes the public face of an organization still dealing with consequences beyond the NBA’s penalties.
- The NBA also stripped the Clippers of five first-round picks from 2029 through 2033 and fined the team $30 million, among other punishments, after an independent investigation found a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations.
- “This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets,” he wrote.
- The once rudderless Los Angeles Clippers have direction again.