NEW YORK, NY, August 7, 2021 – CJ McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers was elected President of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) at today’s annual summer meeting of the Board of NBPA Player Representatives. An 8-year veteran of the NBA, McCollum has served as a Vice President on the NBPA Executive Committee since 2018.
McCollum begins his 4-year term immediately and replaces Chris Paul who has served as President since 2013. Paul led the NBPA in negotiations for its landmark 2017 collective bargaining agreement securing significant salary increases, broadening the players’ revenue share, adding new jobs, and improving benefits for both active and retired players including through enhanced pension terms, unprecedented paid-for health insurance and medical screenings for retired players, a comprehensive mental health & wellness program, and a new tuition assistance benefit.
Paul also oversaw the transfer of the players’ group licensing rights back to the union and the launch and development of THINK450, the for-profit arm of the NBPA that manages those rights on behalf of the players. More recently, Paul was instrumental in developing a plan and protocols for a safe return to play in the Orlando bubble in 2020 as well as a complete 2020-2021 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, and he is one of the most prominent voices behind the NBA players’ active social justice presence.
Grant Williams of the Boston Celtics has been elected as a Vice President to replace McCollum on the NBPA’s Executive Committee. Williams, who has served as a player rep since 2019, will start his 3-year term immediately.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to take over as the new president of the NBPA,” said McCollum. “Chris has done an incredible job over the last 8 years, strengthening the voice of the players as a whole and using his platform to make sure our membership is taken care of on and off the court. I look forward to stepping into this role and to further growing the game so that future players can continue to learn and benefit from the Union’s work.”
“It has been an honor to serve in this position and to represent the diverse group of players that make up our incredible league,” said Chris Paul. “I am extremely proud of all that we have accomplished at the Union in the last 8 years and I am forever grateful to Michele, all of my colleagues on the NBPA Executive Committee – past and present, and of course all of the players who trusted me to make the best decisions for our collective brotherhood. I am confident that CJ will continue to build on the work we have already done and I look forward to working with him to make our Union even stronger.”
“There are no words to express how much Chris has meant to our Union,” said Michele Roberts, Executive Director of the NBPA. “He has been a tremendous leader whose hard work, passion and ability to bring people together has made the NBPA one of the strongest and most respected sports unions in the world. His work for the Union was done while he maintained an unbelievable career on the court, was – and remains – a loving husband and father, an astute entrepreneur and businessman, and a committed activist and community leader. Chris is truly one of a kind and we are grateful and blessed for all of the time he was willing to devote to our Brotherhood. Chris will be sorely missed but we know that CJ will step into this role and continue to strengthen and amplify the players’ platform.”
“Since entering the league, I have wanted to be involved in the Players Association and contribute to the important decisions that impact our lives as players both on and off the court,” said Williams. “I am honored to be selected by my peers for this position and excited to join the NBPA Executive Committee.”
The members of the NBPA Executive Committee are:
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CJ McCollum, President
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Andre Iguodala, First Vice President
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Harrison Barnes, Secretary-Treasurer
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Bismack Biyombo, Vice President
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Malcolm Brogdon, Vice President
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Jaylen Brown, Vice President
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Kyrie Irving, Vice President
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Garrett Temple, Vice President
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Grant Williams, Vice President
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