By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) announced that Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving was elected to become a Vice President of the organization. Irving is succeeding Spanish great Pau Gasol whose three-year term was expired.
Gasol was serving as Vice President since 2017.
Per NBPA:
Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets was elected a Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) at today’s annual winter meeting of the Board of NBPA Player Representatives. A 9-year veteran of the NBA, 6-time NBA All-Star and 2016 NBA Champion, Irving will replace Pau Gasol who has served on the Executive Committee since February 2017. Irving served as the NBPA Player Representative for the Brooklyn Nets for the 2019-2020 season and his 3-year term as Vice President will begin effective immediately.
“This was the right time for me to run for a leadership position in the NBPA,” said Irving. “I have been an observer and a participant in union affairs for a while, but for the most part, I was off on the sidelines, supporting our Executive Committee as they made important decisions. At this point in my career, I wanted to join forces with those guys and take a bigger role outside of the basketball court and within our union. I want to help move the union forward with innovative ideas, not only on social issues but also with business ventures into a new space. I am honored to be elected by my peers and I cannot wait to work with everybody to make an impact.”
“Pau brought an invaluable perspective to the Executive Committee as both an international player and a highly respected league veteran,” said NBPA President Chris Paul. “In the last three years, the NBPA has greatly expanded our resources for international players and I believe that is a direct effect of Pau. We are grateful to him for his service and we are thrilled to have Kyrie join us as the newest Vice President. Having a player of his caliber coupled with his off the court business acumen will help us to continue to strengthen the union as a whole and empower our individual voices as players.”
In addition to Chris Paul (President), the other members of the Executive Committee include Andre Iguodala (First Vice President), Anthony Tolliver (Secretary-Treasurer), Bismack Biyombo, Malcolm Brogdon, Jaylen Brown, CJ McCollum and Garrett Temple (Vice Presidents).
Gasol released a video response on what being a Vice President of the NBPA meant to him and his goals, especially when it comes to international basketball in the league.
It’s been an honor to serve my fellow #NBA players as a member of the Executive Committee of @TheNBPA for the last 3 years. I wish @KyrieIrving all the best as he joins this group of committed athletes that work tirelessly on behalf of their peers.
Always forward! ???? pic.twitter.com/ovr5LgE5yZ
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) February 17, 2020