The NBA has confirmed Los Angeles attorney John Gibson as the Clippers interim governor and CEO, following his nomination by owner Steve Ballmer, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Ballmer, who governs and largely owns the Clippers, received a one‑year ban from all team duties after a Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz investigation found the franchise breached salary‑cap rules by channeling money to star forward Kawhi Leonard through several phantom endorsement contracts.
I’m honored to assume this role and grateful for the chance to serve a club I’ve backed for years, Gibson said, noting his longtime season‑ticket loyalty. The Clippers boast elite talent, coaches, staff, a spectacular Intuit Dome, and a devoted fan base that cares deeply about the team.
My priority will be backing our people, delivering steady guidance, and ensuring the organization keeps progressing.
Curiously, Ballmer bypassed Dennis Wong, the sole minority owner and alternate governor, when naming the interim leader. While untouched by league discipline, Wong allegedly helped route funds to Leonard in December 2022 by investing in Aspiration, even after its auditor KPMG quit and the firm faced multimillion‑dollar lawsuits over missed payments. For my money, skipping Wong signals deeper governance concerns.
Aspiration was among the entities at the heart of the cap‑circumvention saga first exposed last September by journalist and podcaster Pablo Torre. The franchise also remains under a Department of Justice probe linked to its dealings with Leonard. Will the DOJ’s findings finally force lasting reform?