The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has a new Executive Director. Michele A. Roberts, a Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates was elected late last evening in Las Vegas, where thirty-two of the thirty-six possible votes were cast in her favor by team representatives and NBPA executive committee members. Roberts was the clear winner among the final three candidates for the position, which included Dallas Mavericks Chief Executive Officer Terdema Ussery and tech industry Chief Executive Officer Dean Garfield.
Michele A. Roberts is the first female to be elected to the highest position of a major sport's players association within the United States.
"On behalf of the NBA, I would like to congratulate Michele Roberts on her appointment as the NBPA's new Executive Director and look forward to working with her and the NBPA Executive Committee to ensure the continued health and growth of our game," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement following the election of Roberts. "The partnership between our players and teams is the backbone of the league, and we are eager to continue working with the Players Association to build this relationship. I also want to thank Ron Klempner for his service as interim Executive Director over the past 18 months."
Ron Klempner took over as interim Executive Director of the NBPA after Billy Hunter was removed from the position on the grounds that he allegedly extended the term of his contract with the NBPA without properly negotiating it or receiving all required approvals, among other claimed improprieties. Klempner's position started to seem as though it was starting to become permanent, which led to a heated back-and-forth between Los Angeles Clippers guard/NBPA President Chris Paul and basketball agent Jeff Schwartz.
Schwartz had chastised the process of selecting a new NBPA Executive Director primarily based on the secrecy involved. "The next executive director should not be selected by a small group operating in a cone of silence. Players and agents alike should be involved in the process," said Schwartz. Paul responded, "while some of these interests have been critical or skeptical of the very deliberate steps we’ve been taking in this process, it’s a testament to the commitment and passion we all have to protect our players and ultimately the game we all love so much."
Soon thereafter, 12-year NBA veteran, 3-time All-Star and current Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson was brought in to lead a committee in the finalization of the Executive Director search.
Agents were still not entirely pleased with the process, despite many having trust in Johnson and his effort. Mere hours before the election of Roberts, agents gathered to discuss pushing back the election to consider additional candidates beyond the final three, calling the system a "joke". Former NBA player Jerry Stackhouse even arrived at the meetings to express his displeasure with the process.
Yet, the players voted, and they largely showed unity in electing Roberts. With important collective bargaining decisions on the horizon, it is important for the union to come together as one and quit the bickering about who should have been elected to the Executive Director position.
Darren Heitner is a lawyer and the Founder of South Florida-based HEITNER LEGAL, P.L.L.C., which has a focus on Sports Law and Entertainment Law.
