NBA Players Union Strengthens by Voting LeBron James Vice President
Getty Images
Mulitple media sources are reporting Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James has been voted Vice President of the players union. James joins NBPA president and Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul to form a formidable one-two punch for the union.
As has been reported elsewhere, LeBron James has just been voted VP of players union. He & Chris Paul will lead union into CBA talks.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) February 13, 2015
Veteran players near the end of their careers have traditionally held the senior leadership positions in the NBPA. After the lockout-shortened 2011 season and with another potential work stoppage looming, NBA stars like Paul and James are taking on more prominent roles in the NBPA. There’s no doubt having a couple of the league’s biggest names leading Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) talks will provide a significant advantage for the players come 2017 when they can opt out of the current deal, a decision they are expected to make.
James should be the spokesperson for the players as he’s the sport’s biggest star. His voice carries the most weight and players around the league should be thrilled with today’s news. Since the disastrous CBA talks in 2011, James has been more actively involved in league matters.
When it came to starting talks on the new CBA, James said in October 2014 that “we would love to do it sooner than later.” A new TV deal is set to kick in next season and the salary cap is set to spike as a result. Players are going to be demanding more money than ever and it’s becoming increasingly clear tense labor negotiations are once again in store.
Owners claimed they were losing money in the 2011 negotiations, a claim James said there is “no way” they will be able to make, not “after we continue to see teams selling for billions.” The NBA is still a couple years away from potential trouble on the horizon, but if one thing is certain, the players are already preparing.
Lakers Need Some Miracles After All-Star Break
The Los Angeles Lakers are currently a mess, and they need a few different things to happen after the All-Star break. Read More
Russell Westbrook Is Not A "Sidekick" Anymore
Taking a look at Russell Westbrook and how he is no longer just a sidekick to Kevin Durant, but a superstar in the NBA. Read More
5 Things Bucks Must Improve Post All-Star Break
If the Milwaukee Bucks want to be a top-tier team in the playoffs, they must improve on these five things in the weeks after the All-Star break. Read More
5 Things Bulls Must Improve After All-Star Break
The Chicago Bulls are in a good position standings-wise considering their tumultuous season, but they won’t go anywhere in the playoffs if they don’t improve in few areas. Read More
Lakers Should Not Offer Max Contract To Dragic
Goran Dragic is a fantastic player and would be a tremendous addition to the Los Angeles Lakers, but he's not worth a max-deal. Read More
Bynum Unknowingly Destroyed a Gas Pump
If you were unsure of just how stupid Andrew Bynum is, let this story solidify things for you. Read More
Post-Break 2014-15 NBA Power Rankings
Here is my post-break edition of RantSports' NBA power rankings. Read More
5 Things Mavericks Must Improve After ASB
The Dallas Mavericks must improve these five areas if they want to reach their ultimate goal. Read More
Heat Should Pursue Trade For Reggie Jackson
The Miami Heat have been rumored to be going after several veteran point guard options, but Reggie Jackson has to be priority No. 1. Read More
Top 5 COY Candidates At 2015 NBA All-Star Break
Here are the top five Coach of the Year candidates at the 2015 NBA All-Star break. Read More
Predicting Final Seeds For 2015 NBA West Playoffs
With the NBA Playoffs just around the corner, the teams in the Western Conference are now set to battle it out for playoff seeding. When the year ends, here is what the West will likely look like. Read More
Predicting Final Seeds For 2015 NBA East Playoffs
It may be hard for the Hawks to lose their grip on the No. 1 seed in the East, but the rest of the seeds remain to be determined. When the playoffs start, here is what the East will look like. Read More