John S. Gibson, a nationally recognized trial lawyer, was named interim CEO and Governor of the Clippers, replacing owner Steve Ballmer, who has been suspended for a year by the NBA, the team announced Monday.
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Gibson begins immediately, overseeing the Clippers basketball and business operations and will represent the team on NBA governance matters. He is a longtime Clippers season-ticket holder.
“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 Clippers have talented players, coaches and staff, an extraordinary home in Intuit Dome, and passionate Clipper Nation fans who, like me, care deeply about this team. My focus will be on supporting our people, providing steady leadership and helping the organization continue moving forward.”
Ballmer was suspended from all team activities after being found responsible for violating salary cap rules through endorsement deals for star forward Kawhi Leonard. Leonard, who played for the Clippers for six seasons, was traded to the Toronto Raptors in June, a deal that was finalized after the NBA’s investigation earlier this month.
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In addition to Ballmer’s suspension, Gillian Zucker, president of business operations, was suspended for a year and President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank got a six-month suspension.
Gibson is a lawyer and litigation partner at DLA Piper in Los Angeles, where he co-chaired the firm’s U.S. Business & Commercial Litigation practice. Over the past 35 years, he has advised and represented major corporations, technology and health care companies, professional sports organizations and business leaders on complex legal and business matters.
He also has served as founding chair of the United Nations’ AI for Good law track, an organization that helps shape conversations around the legal and societal implications of rapidly evolving AI technologies.
Gibson is a graduate of Harvard University, where he was a John Harvard Scholar, and the University of Michigan Law School, where he was an editor of the Law Review.
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