Rumors

“I want to talk about CJ McCollum,” Iguodala said. “He’s been getting a lot of flack for the second apron and I always ask guys, what would you want CJ to do differently? Because we know what lockouts are like, and we don’t want guys to lose money. We reach out to guys all the time, and what do guys say? I’m busy, I don’t want no extra work.” That frustration then built as Iguodala turned to younger voices. “When I talk to other guys, like we need you at these meetings. ‘I want to play Call Of Duty, I want to go out.’ Mikal… that’s my young boy. I’m like, ‘Mikal dog, if you’re one of the smart players in the league, him too (Josh Hart), we need y’all.’”

Clutch Points

The decision on expansion rests solely with the board of governors and will require approval from 23 of the 30 existing owners to move forward. While the National Basketball Players Association has a say in many matters -- for example, potentially making the schedule shorter -- adding teams is not one of them. That said, the idea of adding another 30 roster spots (36 including two-way contracts) is one the union would be very much in favor of, sources said.

ESPN

The NBA’s position, affirmed by a league source with knowledge of the years-long negotiations between the NBA and the players, is that the league shouldn’t have to provide recognition payments to more players who primarily played in the ABA, yet who also get NBA pensions. The 2022 agreement covered players who either had three or more years’ service time in the ABA, or who’d played at least three combined years in the ABA and NBA but didn’t get a vested pension from the NBA. The league, the source said, believes that the 2022 agreement sufficiently addresses the issue of giving financial assistance to players who, in the NBA’s view, got most of their recognition from playing in the rival ABA. The NBA, while appreciative of the ABA’s impact on its own league — most notably, of course, the 3-point shot — and understanding that great basketball and great players everywhere benefit the game, doesn’t think it has to do more financially for ABA-centric players such as Hillman and Jones.

New York Times

While Erving and Barry and many of the other 23 are doing okay, Tarter estimates that more than half of the remaining players still need financial assistance. And they are proud men. CJ McCollum empathizes with all of the former ABA players. “One day, we’re going to be on the other side,” he said. “You play this game, and then you’re on the other side of the game.”

New York Times

NBPA: Congratulations to former NBPA President, @CP3 on your retirement!

x.com

The National Basketball Players Association has elected David Kelly as its next executive director, the union announced Friday. Kelly, who joined the NBPA as managing director and general counsel in February 2025, will succeed Andre Iguodala, who is stepping down as executive director at the end of his term in July.

New York Times

Kelly came to the NBPA from the Golden State Warriors, where he worked on the business and legal side. “I am honored that the players have trusted me to lead this next chapter alongside our dedicated Executive Committee,” Kelly said in the NBPA statement. “The energy and momentum Andre has built has created an incredible opportunity for our players.”

New York Times

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) held its annual Board of Player Representatives Winter Meeting earlier today, electing Santi Aldama and Trey Murphy III as the newest Vice Presidents on its Executive Committee. Effective immediately, they will take over for Jaren Jackson Jr. and Donovan Mitchell, whose three-year terms have concluded. As part of the NBPA Executive Committee, Aldama and Murphy will help spearhead strategic planning, business affairs and key initiatives to carry out the NBPA’s work on behalf of all players. “I am excited to join the Executive Committee and get to work on the issues that impact NBA players daily,” said Santi Aldama. “My goal is to ensure every player feels supported and that we keep building on the strength and unity of this brotherhood.”

NBPA

“Stepping into this role is a great opportunity to support the players and set up the next generation for success,” said Trey Murphy III. “I look forward to learning from the other guys in the room and contributing to the continued growth of our union.” Murphy has risen from the 17th overall pick in the 2021 Draft to become a dynamic starter for the New Orleans Pelicans. The five-year veteran is deeply invested in empowering his Durham, North Carolina community, actively organizing free resources and training for local families through his annual Basketball Skills Development Clinic and Back-to-School Community Bash.

NBPA

Hunter was removed by the NBPA for a variety of reasons, which included nepotism. And he claims that Fisher and Kobe Bryant were negotiating CBA deals with Stern personally, a claim Fisher denies. But 15 years later, the league having grown exponentially financially with many earning generational wealth, the legacy of Hunter could be viewed differently. He said he doesn’t care about legacies, but he told the Globe he negotiated arduously for his players and foresaw the league’s growth. “I hear from players from time to time,” Hunter told the Globe. “They call me. I was up at Harvard [for a basketball event] and a guy came over with me and said, ‘You’re the Black man that created more Black millionaires than anybody else in the history of the country.’ And I just kind of chuckled. I said, ‘Yeah, I guess,’ you know. “And so I’ve gotten that from time to time from people — people who kind of understand the game, understand the economics of the game, and said that, you know, I should be credited for all the millionaires, black millionaires, I created.”

Boston Globe

Hunter believes many of the league’s owners wanted him out because he was a troublemaker and hard negotiator, and perhaps they did not want Hunter sparring with the more amicable Silver, who took over for the retired Stern. “My understanding at the time was that the reason why they were moving on from me was because of the fact that it was not a good deal,” he said. “That was what was represented. But I think it was more that, behind the scenes, the owners were moving to get me out of that position, that I had been too much of a problem, you know, and that’s why.”

Boston Globe

NBPA: Statement from the NBPA and its Executive Committee on the Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis by ICE. “There comes a time when silence is betrayal” -MLK

x.com

Did I read correctly that you’re on the NBPA’s board and you’re trying to do some foundation stuff for Spain? Aldama: “Yeah, I’m on the foundation board, but it’s not necessarily for Spain. We helped because there was a natural disaster last year. I was with the board at that time. But they helped a lot with [Jose] Calderon. He was a huge driver of that. We were able to contribute a bunch of resources to the people that suffered. The NBPA helped big time. That was one of the things that motivated me to be on the board with the foundation. We can help when the fires occurred and Jamaica now [with Hurricane Melissa]. We’re trying to help anybody and everybody. Then whatever ventures the players have or anything that’s passionate to them, we can match and help. I think that’s important because we’re more than basketball players. We’re lucky enough to be in a privileged financial situation and social situation. We can donate a lot and also make people aware of things that drive us.”

essentiallysports.com

Bobby Marks: Statement from the @TheNBPA re: Terry Rozier "While we are in agreement with the league that upholding the integrity of the game is of the utmost importance, their decision to place Terry on leave without pay is counter to the presumption of innocence and inconsistent with the terms of our Collective Bargaining Agreement,” said an NBPA spokesperson. "We plan to challenge their decision via the proper channels.”

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