President Paul

[mttwlsn16]

Chris Paul named nba players union prez

[mkwest]

Chris Paul new union president

Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul became the highest profile player in more than a decade to head the National Basketball Players Association, as he was elected president Wednesday after a two-day meeting in Las Vegas.

Paul, a vice president on the union's executive board for the past four years, is the biggest star to lead the group since Patrick Ewing in 2001. He begins his 18-month term replacing Derek Fisher, who had been president since 2006, with the NBPA in turmoil after 18 months of in-fighting, firings and lawsuits.

Paul's most important job now will be to guide the union through the process of selecting a replacement for Billy Hunter, who was fired as NBPA executive director in February. Neither Paul nor Jerry Stackhouse, who had been a union vice president before resigning his position this week, would commit to a timetable or discuss whether a search firm was in place to do that.

The union would like to have a new executive director in place before Feb. 1, when Adam Silver will take over as NBA commissioner. There are a number of issues from the 2011 collective bargaining agreement that were tabled and need resolution. Those include blood testing for performance-enhancing drugs, including HGH, and the age limit to enter the draft, which currently is 19.

"For us, it's all about getting our house in order and making sure that everything moves right in that direction," Paul said.

Brian Windhorst, ESPN

Chris Paul elected president of NBA players union

'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.''

''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.''

W.G. Ramirez, Yahoo! Sports

Paul ready to run point for NBPA

There should have been one sales pitch Chris Paul made in his bid to become president of the NBA players' union -- the same reason the union should be happy he was selected for the job Wednesday.

Look at what he's done for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Working with an owner who previously had one of the worst reputations in sports, Paul has given the Clippers the "go get 'em" feel of a well-funded Internet startup.

But the owners also know it's the big names who make up a disproportionate part of the NBA's existence, and Paul's ascension to president of the National Basketball Players Association signals a level of commitment to the union by prominent players that hasn't existed in recent years.

"It's huge," said Roger Mason Jr., who had sought the presidency but quickly fell in line in support of Paul, and was elected first vice president.

"He was a part of the executive committee, but it's different. And now he'll be able to walk into the room along with ... the other executive committee members and really represent the face of our league. So I think it's important."

He added later: "I wouldn't have took this role, this job on, if it was going to be me doing it alone. The other guys on the executive committee are just as important as I am."

Said Mason: "Chris told me I'm going to be the engine. Between myself and James Jones [the union's secretary treasurer], we're the two guys that, we've been living this every day. He's going to lean on us, he's going to lean on the rest of the executive committee."

JA Adande, ESPN

[TheNewEra]

Really hope this does not become a distraction

[jellybean8]

Prob only reason is so he can get rid of the flopping fines for him and blake griffin

[mttwlsn16]

Prob only reason is so he can get rid of the flopping fines for him and blake griffin

You're probably right.

[Woodsanity]

Prob only reason is so he can get rid of the flopping fines for him and blake griffin

Chris Paul is going to dedicate many hours per week to be president so he can get rid of small flopping fines that don't even hurt his bank account? Paul and Griffin didn't even get fines last season and even if they got several fines it would do nothing. Paul is the representative of what the NBPA members want. If he is against flopping fines then the majority of players in the nbpa were against them probably because most of them are role players and can actually lose a decent chunk of money off fines.

[jellybean8]

Prob only reason is so he can get rid of the flopping fines for him and blake griffin

Chris Paul is going to dedicate many hours per week to be president so he can get rid of small flopping fines that don't even hurt his bank account? Paul and Griffin didn't even get fines last season and even if they got several fines it would do nothing. Paul is the representative of what the NBPA members want. If he is against flopping fines then the majority of players in the nbpa were against them probably because most of them are role players and can actually lose a decent chunk of money off fines.

Yeah and try to not let the HGH testing go thru...wonder why?

[azncorruptedo17]

Prob only reason is so he can get rid of the flopping fines for him and blake griffin

Chris Paul is going to dedicate many hours per week to be president so he can get rid of small flopping fines that don't even hurt his bank account? Paul and Griffin didn't even get fines last season and even if they got several fines it would do nothing. Paul is the representative of what the NBPA members want. If he is against flopping fines then the majority of players in the nbpa were against them probably because most of them are role players and can actually lose a decent chunk of money off fines.

Yeah and try to not let the HGH testing go thru...wonder why?

we all know cp3 sucks, he's overrated, he does PEDs, he flops, he's overpaid, ::insert troll food here:: blah blah blah

lol.

[mkwest]

Yeah and try to not let the HGH testing go thru...wonder why?

You better hope your beloved Kobe bean isn't on anything.

[mttwlsn16]

Does anyone in their right mind honestly believe Lebron never took some kind of PEDs?

[jellybean8]

Lol obv cp3 isnt on it , blake griffin seems to b on it tho along with his buds lbj and others....

[jellybean8]

Yeah and try to not let the HGH testing go thru...wonder why?

You better hope your beloved Kobe bean isn't on anything.

Wish he did would like some more yrs out of him haha jk..

[jellybean8]

No but seriously why wouldnt you want hgh testing?

[mttwlsn16]

No but seriously why wouldnt you want hgh testing?

Prob afraid of some giant mess like Major league baseball is dealing with

[Woodsanity]

Does anyone in their right mind honestly believe Lebron never took some kind of PEDs?

Do people who always accuse players of using PEDs even though they don't know what they do? I'm no PED scholar, but I'd ask these people to tell me what he could have been taking and why they think he is taking PEDs. He has had no drastic change in his body or his stats since 2009. Pretty much the same statline each season since his 2nd season besides the field goal percentage that has improved each season. Most he's weighed is 260 and he came into the league at 240. Now he is playing at 250. The best equipment that money can buy is available to him. He has freak genetics and takes extremely good care of his body. Guy's bodies change from 18 to 28 whether they work out or not. Interested in seeing what some folks will say.

Not saying Lebron doesn't. I wouldn't be surprised if he did and I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't but it would be nice to see some actual reasoning instead of he definitely does this or that.