TITLE: Wyc Grousbeck to Relinquish Celtics Governorship Immediately After Sale Approval
SLUG: wyc-grousbeck-steps-down-early-as-celtics-governor
CONTENT:
Wyc Grousbeck will hand over the Boston Celtics’ governorship to incoming majority owner William Chisholm as soon as the NBA approves Chisholm’s purchase of the franchise, according to ESPN.
The change accelerates a transition originally scheduled for the 2027-28 season, when Chisholm’s group was set to acquire the remaining shares of the team. Chisholm is buying an initial 51 percent stake and is expected to assume control once league approval is granted, a decision described as imminent.
ESPN did not detail why the timeline was moved up. It is uncommon for a new majority owner to defer day-to-day control to the previous owner, and similar plans have unraveled elsewhere around the league.
After stepping down as governor, Grousbeck will continue as the Celtics’ chief executive officer and serve as an alternate governor on the NBA’s Board of Governors, the report said.
Precedent Around the NBA
This is the second recent instance of an ownership transition plan changing course. Mark Cuban was expected to remain the Dallas Mavericks’ top basketball decision-maker after selling control to the Alderson family and Patrick Dumont, but that arrangement did not materialize. In Los Angeles, Jeanie Buss is still slated to stay on as Lakers governor once Mark Walter attains majority ownership, bolstered by Walter’s longstanding minority stake and relationship with the Buss family.
Grousbeck’s Tenure
The Grousbeck family purchased the Celtics in 2002 for $360 million. During Wyc Grousbeck’s governorship, the franchise captured NBA championships in 2008 and 2024. The current sale values the team at approximately $6.1 billion.
Source: Hoops Wire
