The face of the NBA may become the face of the National Basketball Players Association as well.
LeBron James would like to see some changes within the NBPA, and with a presidency vacancy, he may just be the one to enforce those changes.
After the lockout in 2011 ended with a collective bargaining agreement that saw players give back a significant amount of their income to ownership, the players’ union has received its fair share of criticism from its members. Executive director Billy Hunter was fired after a scandal earlier this year and Derek Fisher’s term ended after the 2013 season, so the vacancy has the Miami Heat star mulling over the possibility of running for the presidency.
“I just think the union is going backwards, and it’s not in a good place right now,” James told ESPN.com on Saturday. “I think my voice could be huge in that situation.”
The four-time MVP and back-to-back champion would be the most high-profile president the union has had since Patrick Ewing ran the show in 1998. While his voice would certainly bring attention to the issues, James’ biggest concern in whether or not to run is if he’ll be able to find enough hours in the day.
“I’m not sure I have the time to do it, but it’s something I’m going to think about with my team and go from there,” James said. “But I think we all can agree there’s been a lot of transition in our union in the last couple of years. If it’s not me in that seat then I hope it’s someone who is comfortable with it and can do the job.”
The NBPA will reportedly meet in Las Vegas in August to name their new president.
