The NBA has approved Los Angeles-based lawyer John Gibson as the Clippers' interim governor and CEO, per ESPN's Shams Charania. Ballmer, the team's governor and majority owner, was suspended from all team-related activities for one year following an NBA investigation.
The suspension stems from the league's punishment of the Clippers for cap circumvention, according to multiple reports. While CBS Sports and ESPN specified the violation involved the Kawhi Leonard deal, most outlets did not detail the nature of the circumvention.
Gibson, described as a trial lawyer based in Los Angeles, will assume leadership of the franchise during Ballmer's absence. Ballmer nominated Gibson for the interim role, which the NBA subsequently approved.