Los Angeles Clippers president Andy Roeser, who was hired 30 years ago by disgraced owner Donald Sterling, will be taking an indefinite leave of absence, the NBA announced Tuesday.
Only Sterling and announcer Ralph Lawler have been with the Clippers longer than Roeser, who was hired in 1984 when the franchise moved from San Diego to Los Angeles and became president in 1986.
Roeser served as alternate governor for the Clippers, filling in for Sterling when the owner was not available for league matters. In the past, he has negotiated player contracts.
Last week, Sterling was banned for life by NBA commissioner Adam Silver for making racist remarks to his girlfriend that were published by TMZ. Silver is moving toward removing Sterling as owner.
After the remarks were published, Roeser released a statement that blindly defended Sterling and questioned the validity and the motive of the audiotape, drawing criticism from the media and team employees.
“This (absence) will provide an opportunity for a new CEO to begin on a clean slate and for the team to stabilize under difficult circumstances,” NBA executive vice president of communications Mike Bass said in a statement.
On Saturday, the NBA announced it would appoint an acting CEO for the Clippers without naming a candidate.
Despite perhaps the biggest distraction in NBA history, the Clippers outlasted the Golden State Warriors in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. They got the jump on the Oklahoma City Thunder with Monday’s 122-105 road victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.