Wyc Grousbeck and William Chisholm still plan to jointly guide the Boston Celtics for the next few years, but Grousbeck will give up his governor title sooner than expected, per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Under NBA rules, the governor must own at least 15% of the team, and Grousbeck’s stake will drop below that threshold once Chisholm’s group completes its purchase of a 51% controlling share.
The original plan was for Grousbeck to remain governor through the 2027/28 season, stepping down only after Chisholm acquired the rest of the franchise in 2028.
Instead, Chisholm will take over the role immediately following league approval of the sale, which is expected soon. Grousbeck will stay on as CEO and serve as an alternate governor.
This change mirrors other recent cases in which outgoing owners planned to keep major roles after selling control but ultimately stepped aside sooner, such as Mark Cuban with the Mavericks.
Grousbeck’s departure from the governor role ends a 22-year run that began when his family bought the Celtics in 2002 for $360 million – a tenure highlighted by championships in 2008 and 2024.
The team’s sale values the franchise at $6.1 billion.
The new Celtics owner will take over the role as the team's governor: https://t.co/fDVt7SIKFc
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) August 12, 2025
