With Pau Gasol’s term as one of the National Basketball Players Association’s vice presidents coming to an end, the union found his replacement: Kyrie Irving. The union made the announcement on Monday.
Irving joins Miami Heat wing Andre Iguodala (First VP), Brooklyn Nets teammate Garrett Temple and ex-Boston Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown as vice presidents of the union, along with Charlotte Hornets big man Bismack Biyombo, Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon, and Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum.
Irving had an accompanying statement with the NBPA’s announcement, but he also expanded further on social media:
I decided to run for VP of the NBPA simply because I felt like it was time. I had been — being an observer, somewhat of a participant in a lot of our affairs, a lot of our voting, a lot of the issues that needed to be tackled. Like I said, I was off to the sideline watch CP [NBPA President Chris Paul], Garrett, you know, CJ, Bismack, all our representatives, our governing body, just making a lot of these decisions. And I wanted to join forces, really figure out where my place was outside of basketball within our union and move the union forward with more innovative ways, not only social things, but business ventures. Just in a new space as a businessman, but more or less as a leader. You know, it’s obviously been a road — a heck of a journey these last 20 days, with a mentor of mine passing [Kobe Bryant]. So a lot of things were put into perspective that kind of got the ball rolling during all of this. Like I said, I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to join the family, and I can’t wait to get to know everybody more and be more of [an] influential person in our union.
A word from our new VP, @KyrieIrving. pic.twitter.com/C1z3xhYtLh
— NBPA (@TheNBPA) February 17, 2020
Irving’s tern as vice president is for three years.
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