The Los Angeles Clippers have officially appointed the individual who will run the franchise for the year-long suspension of Steve Ballmer. John Gibson, a lawyer based in Los Angeles, will steer the organization of Southern California as Governor and CEO. The NBA has already given its blessing to the proposal, making it fully effective.
Now, Gibson will have to make certain decisions to cover for the also-suspended Lawrence Frank (six months) and Gillian Zucker (one year). President of Operations and head of the business side, respectively.
This vacancy has not hindered the Clippers from continuing to operate without a visible head, ultimately processing the Kawhi Leonard trade just hours after Ballmer publicly accepted his suspension.
Little is known about Gibson, who is not a public figure in the same way as magnate Ballmer. Perhaps they were seeking, precisely, a low-profile figure to weather the next 12 months. And, of course, it is ironic that a lawyer would sit in the chair left vacant by a mountain of misdeeds of dubious legality.
