Clippers Name John Gibson Interim Gov. After Steve Ballmer's NBA Suspension from Kawhi Investigation

With Los Angeles Clippers governor Steve Ballmer suspended from all league and team activities for one year as part of the NBA's punishment for the club's violations of salary-cap rules with Kawhi Leonard, John Gibson will step in as the new interim CEO and team governor.

Los Angeles released a statement Monday announcing he will start immediately and "oversee the Clippers' basketball and business operations and represent the organization on NBA governance matters."

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The NBA announced earlier this month an investigation determined the Clippers engaged in "a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations" that included "violating the salary cap circumvention rules contained in the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement."

It stripped the team of five first-round draft picks and fined it $30 million in addition to the one-year suspensions for Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker. Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was also suspended for six months.

Leonard, who was fined $700,000 as part of the punishment, was traded to the Toronto Raptors this offseason for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-round picks.

While Los Angeles got some draft capital in return in the Leonard trade to help make up for the picks it lost, it is still staring at an uphill battle in the Western Conference for the foreseeable future.

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," he said in Monday's 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."

Gibson was a trial lawyer and litigation partner prior to this opportunity, as well as a "long-time Clippers season ticket holder."

Now he is tasked with helping run the team he has supported as a fan.