The previous Toronto Raptors guard and present Houston Rockets participant was elected the brand new president of the Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation, the NBPA introduced on Saturday.
“It’s actually an honor to be elected as President of the NBPA by my friends, and I sit up for persevering with to advocate for the perfect curiosity of all of the members,” mentioned VanVleet in a press release. “With a deep appreciation for the complexities and challenges gamers face on all ranges of their NBA journeys, I’m dedicated to approaching this function with the fervour, dignity, and dedication each participant deserves.”
VanVleet will start a four-year time period because the union’s subsequent chief, succeeding Washington Wizards’ guard CJ McCollum, who will proceed to serve on the chief committee in an advisory capability. The 12-year veteran has been a part of NBPA management for seven years — the primary three as a vice chairman (2018-2021) and the final 4 as president (2021-2025).
“It has been a privilege to serve on the NBPA Govt Committee for the previous seven years and uniquely form the enterprise of our sport,” mentioned McCollum. “I’m inspired by the way forward for the PA underneath Fred’s management, as he has earned the basketball neighborhood’s respect and has confirmed he’s prepared for this subsequent step. I sit up for supporting him as we proceed constructing a stronger Affiliation that serves previous, current, and future generations of gamers.”
For VanVleet, it is the most recent milestone in an already unheralded journey as he readies for his tenth NBA season after going undrafted to start out his profession. The one-time all-star spent the primary seven years as a professional with the Raptors — enjoying a pivotal function within the workforce’s 2019 title run — earlier than signing with the Rockets (for 3 years at $128.5 million) forward of the 2023-24 marketing campaign.
And though Houston declined VanVleet’s $44.9 million membership choice heading into 2025-26, the workforce as a substitute re-signed the lead guard to a two-year, $50 million contract (per Spotrac).
His a number of NBA offers have made him the highest-earning undrafted participant in league historical past.
The 31-year-old averaged 14.1 factors, 2.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists as he helped the Rockets take a serious leap up the standings to the No. 2 seed after being eleventh the 12 months earlier than. He’ll now play a key function for a revamped Rockets workforce that traded for 15-time all-star Kevin Durant earlier within the low season and made affect signings with Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela.
As president of the NBPA, VanVleet will function the first consultant for all gamers within the league, working with the union’s government committee — which incorporates present Raptors veteran Garrett Temple, who has been a vice chairman since 2017 — to supervise issues like collective bargaining agreements and gamers’ rights.
