LAS VEGAS — Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul was elected president of the NBA players’ association Wednesday, replacing Derek Fisher.
The vote by NBA player representatives came six months after the union fired Billy Hunter as executive director, a position that remains vacant. Hunter countered with a wrongful-termination lawsuit in May, accusing Fisher of conspiring with NBA officials during the 2011 lockout.
“We definitely discussed [hiring an executive director], but there’s no rush,” Paul said. “For us, it’s all about getting our house in order and making sure that everything moves right in that direction.”
Paul was a vice president on the executive committee for the past four years.
“It was something I saw as a challenge, something I knew I’d be able to handle,” Paul said. “It’s an unbelievable opportunity, a lot of responsibility comes with this position but I’m very fortunate to have an outstanding of committee guys. The past couple of days have been outstanding, the dialogue we’ve had as an executive committee also with the players that have come in town, it was amazing.”
In meetings at the Venetian Hotel, Roger Mason Jr. was elected first vice president. He replaced Jerry Stackhouse, who resigned from the office and is expected to take a position within the union.
Anthony Tolliver and Steve Blake were elected vice presidents, filling the executive committee positions vacated by Paul and Mason.
“This is not a position that’s about me or one person,” Paul said. “It’s about the collective group and the players and I think from my experience … it’s about growing the game and expanding our brand and continue to get our players involved as we can and make sure our voice is heard. The guys here just understand it’s our union, there’s no one person that is bigger than the group.”