Could LeBron James be adding "president" to his already impressive resume? There is no doubting the Miami Heat is one of the most influential players in the NBA right now. His presence alone commands attention. As Derek Fisher prepares to end his reign as National Basketball Players Association president, James is considering stepping up.
The league MVP confirmed that he is considering a big for presidency, running under a platform of change. James is concerned that after the lockout ended, the NBPA is in a bad place at the moment.
"I just think the union is going backwards, and it's not in a good place right now," James said Saturday in an interview with ESPN. "I think my voice could be huge in that situation."
The entire player's union has fallen under heavy scrutiny following the collective bargaining agreement. Players were forced to give back significant revenue to ownership. If James does in fact run and gets elected, he would be the most high-profile star to hold the title since Patrick Ewing was elected almost 15 years ago.
The job would come with a heavy amount of commitment; something the Heat star is not sure is something he can take on.
"I'm not sure I have the time to do it, but it's something I'm going to think about with my team and go from there," James said. "But I think we all can agree there's been a lot of transition in our union in the last couple of years. If it's not me in that seat then I hope it's someone who is comfortable with it and can do the job."
Fisher has held the position since 2006. His time was met with much controversy, the latest being the departure of executive director Billy Hunter who fell under investigation for questionable business practices. The internal investigation looked into the NBPA's payroll and misuse of funds. Fisher once received a $22,000 watch from Hunter purchased with union funds.
FoxSports.com was the first to report James' interest in the position. During February's All-Star game, James was very vocal about the need for change in the union. The only thing standing in his way is the amount of commitment. James does not want to do anything halfway and wants to remain very active in the rebuilding process of the union.
