Kevin Johnson to lead search for NBPA director
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson will help find the new NBPA director. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
The National Basketball Players Association has picked Sacramento Mayor and former NBA All-Star Kevin Johnson to lead the search for the union's next executive director, the NBPA announced in a statement Monday, reports the AP.
The executive director job has been vacant ever since Billy Hunter was let go 14 months ago.
Johnson will work with union president Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers and acting executive director Ron Klempner in the search.
"Mayor Johnson is in a unique position as a former player and someone skilled in the politics of negotiations to lead this effort. We all witnessed his Herculean efforts to save his hometown Sacramento Kings from relocating, and I'm confident he'll bring the same leadership to our search for a new executive director," Chris Paul said in a statement.
Johnson believes his connection to the NBA and its players will help in his role.
"As the league continues to reach amazing heights in global popularity, the new executive director and the team he or she puts together has a critical role to play," Johnson said in his statement. "I believe the NBPA can set the standard for player representation in all professional sports. I thank president Chris Paul and the entire executive Committee for the opportunity. Over the next few weeks I will be meeting with all of the player representatives and moving aggressively to build on the work that's been done"
