Fred VanVleet succeeds CJ McCollum as new NBPA President
The veteran guard for the Houston Rockets, Fred VanVleet, has officially been elected as the new president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), succeeding CJ McCollum, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
The announcement was made following the NBPA's annual summer Board of Player Representatives meeting. VanVleet, 31, will serve a four-year term as the union's leader, representing all NBA players in critical matters ranging from collective bargaining to player rights and league policy.
VanVleet takes over from McCollum, who served as NBPA president from 2021 to 2025 after a prior three-year tenure as executive vice president (2018–2021). During his presidency, McCollum oversaw the negotiation of a landmark seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in 2023. That deal introduced significant changes, including the first and second apron system, ensured labor peace through the 2029–30 season, and included a mutual opt-out clause after the 2028–29 season.
As president, VanVleet will play a central role if the NBA and NBPA decide to renegotiate the CBA before its conclusion. He will work closely with the union's executive director and executive committee, featuring long-serving members like Garrett Temple (vice president since 2017), to address critical league matters such as scheduling, revenue sharing, player safety, and discipline.
'It's truly an honor to be elected as President of the NBPA by my peers, and I look forward to continuing to advocate for the best interest of all the members,' said VanVleet. 'With a deep appreciation for the complexities and challenges players face on all levels of their NBA journeys, I am committed to approaching this role with the passion, dignity, and dedication every player deserves.'
Fred VanVleet's journey to this role is a great example of what persistence can achieve. After going undrafted in 2016, he joined the Toronto Raptors and became instrumental in their 2019 NBA Championship run. He earned an All-Star selection in 2022 and has since signed multiple contracts that made him the highest-paid undrafted player in league history. His current deal with the Rockets is a two-year, $50 million contract signed in June 2025, following a previously declined $44.9 million team option.
In the 2024–25 NBA season, VanVleet averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists across 60 games. He was one of just seven players listed at 6 feet or shorter to play at least 50 games. Off the court, VanVleet is widely respected for his leadership, professionalism, and advocacy for players' rights, having previously led Toronto's G League affiliate Raptors 905 to a championship in 2017.
McCollum will now serve in an advisory capacity to the NBPA, supporting VanVleet as he transitions into this leadership role. Former presidents of the union include Chris Paul and McCollum, both of whom held significant influence during their terms.
Related: 6 Kevin Durant decisions that tarnished his legacy, ranked
Related: Houston Rockets's biggest mistake in 2025 NBA free agency
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
a few seconds ago
- USA Today
USA TODAY Sports has Brent Venables on the hot seat entering 2025
Since 1998, the Oklahoma Sooners have finished below .500 only twice. Unfortunately for current coach Brent Venables, both times it's happened under his watch. Though many are expecting a bounce-back season for the Sooners, the SEC media isn't quite ready to crown them, picking Oklahoma to finish 10th in the SEC preseason media poll. The Sooners are coming off a 6-7 season with a 2-6 record after their first year in the Southeastern Conference. That disappointment, combined with the 6-7 season in 2022, when Oklahoma was still in the Big 12, has put Venables' job in jeopardy. USA TODAY Sports writers Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams ranked the five coaches with the hottest seats in the SEC, and Venables came in third in Toppmeyer's top five and No. 4 according to Adams. Rival Texas experienced little trouble transitioning to the SEC. That adds up to a pivotal Year 4 for Venables, who soon will be working for a new athletic director. Joe Castiglione, who hired Venables, is retiring. - Toppmeyer and Adams, USA TODAY Sports Though a 10th-place finish would be an improvement - the Sooners finished in a tie for 14th last year - it would make Venables' job prospects tenuous, most likely. To help alleviate some of that pressure, Venables hired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State. Along with Arbuckle came quarterback John Mateer. Mateer is considered one of the top transfers in the country after leading FBS in total touchdowns last year, running for 15 and throwing for 29. Running back Jaydn Ott also joins the offense from California-Berkeley, and after being named all Pac-12 two seasons ago, was ranked preseason second-team All-SEC last week. Oklahoma went all in to turn over the offensive group that finished 97th in the nation in points per game in 2024. If they can get an improved performance from the offense to go along with Venables' defense, the Sooners should be in good shape in 2025. The only coaches in the conference with hotter seats are Arkansas' Sam Pittman and Auburn's Hugh Freeze, according to the list. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
San Francisco Chronicle
a few seconds ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Lindor and Alonso snap out of slumps, power Mets to series sweep of Angels
NEW YORK (AP) — Slump-busting hits by Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso were just what the New York Mets needed to finish a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels. Lindor snapped a career-worst 0-for-31 drought and Alonso ended a 2-for-34 slide as the Mets beat the Angels 6-3 on Wednesday. New York won its fourth straight after losing its first two games coming out of the All-Star break. Lindor gave the Mets the lead for good with a 76.6 mph RBI single in the third inning. The shortstop had made three outs on balls hit harder than 97 mph since Sunday, including a 98.2 mph fly to center in his first at-bat Wednesday. 'Funny how baseball works,' Lindor said. 'When you're good, you're good. When you suck, you suck.' Two batters after Lindor's looper, Alonso, whose slump dated to July 10, hit a 439-foot three-run homer — his 22nd longball of the season — to left field that was clocked at 112 mph off the bat. 'Felt awesome,' Alonso said. 'Those are kind of few and far between. Balls like that you kind of dream about — well, for me at least.' As relieved as they were to fuel the four-run third, Lindor and Alonso found further encouragement in the hits they collected later in the game. Lindor, whose batting average has slipped from .289 to .248 since June 7, produced the Mets' final run with another RBI single in the fourth. 'Past couple of games, felt like my at-bats got better,' Lindor said. 'I made the pitcher work a little bit more and there were more productive outs. And that, plus the combination of winning, is a good recipe.' Alonso singled to right in the seventh for his third multihit game of the month. 'Honestly, I'm more satisfied with that inside-out single my last at-bat,' Alonso said. 'The homer obviously is super great. But personally, when I'm hitting the ball to the big part of the field, that's when I feel good.' The Mets are 5-0 this season when Alonso and Lindor have multiple hits in a game and 13-0 in such games dating to last July. 'We're going to need those guys,' manager Carlos Mendoza said. 'We know that they're going through it, but they're too good, man. They're too good of a hitter and too good of a player and I'm glad they were able to come through for us today.'
Fox Sports
a few seconds ago
- Fox Sports
Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi scheduled to make first second-half start Friday against Braves
Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas' Nathan Eovaldi is scheduled to make his first start following the All-Star break on Friday night when the Rangers host the Atlanta Braves. Eovaldi (7-3) made his most recent start July 13, allowing one run in 7 2/3 innings in a 5-1 victory at Houston. The 35-year-old right-hander was scheduled to start last Sunday against Detroit but was scratched because of back stiffness. Eovaldi wasn't selected to the AL All-Star squad but was awarded a $100,000 All-Star bonus in his contract by the Rangers after he posted a 1.58 ERA with 94 strikeouts over 91 innings. 'I was caught off-guard by it, very thankful,' Eovaldi, who was named to the team in 2021 with Boston and 2023 with the Rangers, recently said about the bonus. Eovaldi missed a month from late May to late June because of a triceps injury. Also, Texas activated right-hander Jon Gray on Wednesday and designated right-hander Luke Jackson for assignment. Gray fractured his right forearm during spring training. ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 3
