Wyc Grousbeck to step down as Celtics governor sooner than expected

When the Grousbeck family agreed to sell the Celtics to William Chisholm, the plan was for Wyc Grousbeck to remain as team governor through the 2027-28 season. The idea was that he would step aside when Chisholm’s group, which is initially purchasing a 51 percent stake, acquired the rest of the franchise in 2028.

That plan has changed. Once Chisholm’s purchase is approved, he will immediately take over as Boston’s governor, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Ramona Shelburne. Approval of the sale is expected soon.

ESPN did not specify why the timeline shifted, but it was already considered unusual for a new majority owner to take control while keeping the former majority owner in the top organizational role.

Grousbeck will remain the Celtics’ CEO and will serve as an alternate governor after the sale is finalized, per the report.

It is the second time in recent years that such a transition plan has fallen through. Mark Cuban was expected to remain the Mavericks’ top basketball decision-maker after selling controlling interest to the Aldersons and Patrick Dumont, but that did not happen.

A similar arrangement is planned in Los Angeles, where Jeanie Buss is expected to remain governor after Mark Walter acquires control of the Lakers. Walter has been a minority owner of the Lakers for several years and has a preexisting relationship with the Buss family, unlike the situations in Dallas and Boston.

Grousbeck will leave the governor role after more than two decades, having guided the Celtics to championships in 2008 and 2024. The Grousbeck family bought the franchise in 2002 for $360 million and sold it at a valuation of $6.1 billion.