How did the National Basketball Players Association shape up and come into existence? All you need to know

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) is a labor union that serves to protect and support the rights and interests of NBA players. The association has existed since 1954 and has helped its members achieve several major goals.

The NBPA is made up of active NBA players. It has its president, vice presidents, and every team in the league has its representative.

This article will reveal everything you need to know about the National Basketball Players Association, its goals, history, and its current leadership.

C.J. McCollum is the current National Basketball Players Association president

The National Basketball Players Association has a unique leadership structure. Similar to most countries, the association has a president that serves on a four-year term. The current president is C.J. McCollum of the New Orleans Pelicans.

McCollum was elected in 2021 after serving as vice president for three years. The Pelicans shooting guard replaced Chris Paul, who served as president for two terms from 2013 to 2021.

C.J. McCollum is president of the National Basketball Players Association (Image via Getty Images)

Chris Paul has done a lot for NBA players. He led the NBPA in the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which has drastically improved players' salaries. Paul has also successfully negotiated benefits for both active and retired players.

The current CBA runs through the 2023-24 season and McCollum will represent NBA players during the next negotiation. However, considering that the league has been very profitable lately, team owners and the National Basketball Players Association should easily agree to new terms.

Aisde from McCollum, here are the other important players who are involved with the NBPA:

Andre Iguodala - First vice president
Harrison Barnes - Secretary-treasurer
Bismack Biyombo - Vice president
Malcolm Brogdon - Vice president
Jaylen Brown - Vice president
Kyrie Irving - Vice president
Garrett Temple - Vice president
Grant Williams - Vice president

Kyrie Irving is one of National Basketball Players Association vice presidents (Image via Getty Images)

Each NBA team has its representative in the National Basketball Players Association as well. At the start of every NBA season, teams pick their representatives and potential replacements.

These players serve as their team's delegates during representative meetings. They have the right to speak on behalf of their teammates and are also in charge of selective the leadership of the union.

The history

The roots of the NBPA go all the way back to 1954 with Bob Cousy. Cousy mailed each NBA team and asked for their support to approach NBA President Maurice Podoloff.

Cousy and other players demanded better conditions and benefits from the league. Podoloff granted some of their demands, but he refused to acknowledge the the players association.

The early days of the National Basketball Players Association were quite difficult. The negotiations for the pension plan resulted in the 1964 All-Star game strike. All-Stars refused to step on the court just before the game, forcing team owners to agree to their demands.

Bob Cousy began forming a union all the way back in 1954 (Image via Getty Images)

The situation has drastically improved over the past few decades. However, the league had to go through three different lockouts, with the last one taking place in 2011.

The CBA expired in July 2011 and the league had to negotiate a new contract with the NBPA. Unfortunately, the two sides couldn't reach an agreement, which resulted in a lockout and a shortened NBA season.

After reaching an agreement, the 2011-12 season began on December 25, 2011 and was shortened to 66 games.