Billy Hunter is being hunted again. As you may remember, during the NBA Lockout there was a contingency of NBA Agents who formed Team Agent and tried to finagle the ouster of Billy Hunter as the NBPA Executive Director. At the time, Union President Derek Fisher stood and propped Hunter up. But it seems the tide changed during the lockout as mistrust between the two leaders grew and boiled over after Bloomberg reported that Hunter's family members and businesses had been paid $4.8 million by the union since 2001. In response, Fisher called for an independent audit, which initially was signed off by the NBPA Executive Committee.
But the NBPA Committee quickly reversed course. Hunter explained his family's involvement to the Executive Committee and then pushed the spotlight back onto Fisher and asked for his resignation due to the "numerous instances over the past six months, where Fisher engaged in conduct detrimental to the union, including acting in contravention of the players' best interests during collective bargaining, declining to follow the NBPA Constitution, and failing to uphold the duties of the Union President."
Fisher is ready for a fight and claims to be supported by the vast majority of players. Fisher now has Uncle Sam by his side too and will likely get the independent review he was looking for. Three days ago the United States Attorney Office in Manhattan issued subpoenas to inspect the NBPA business dealings.
Derek Fisher has more than two years remaining on his term as NBPA President. Hunter has three years remaining on his deal. Will both be in power after the U.S. Attorneys office gets done with them? The play-offs may be in full swing, but the on-goings off the court may be just as explosive in the opinion of this sports law as the Fishers v. Hunters one on one match should be one to watch. Stay tuned!
But the NBPA Committee quickly reversed course. Hunter explained his family's involvement to the Executive Committee and then pushed the spotlight back onto Fisher and asked for his resignation due to the "numerous instances over the past six months, where Fisher engaged in conduct detrimental to the union, including acting in contravention of the players' best interests during collective bargaining, declining to follow the NBPA Constitution, and failing to uphold the duties of the Union President."
Fisher is ready for a fight and claims to be supported by the vast majority of players. Fisher now has Uncle Sam by his side too and will likely get the independent review he was looking for. Three days ago the United States Attorney Office in Manhattan issued subpoenas to inspect the NBPA business dealings.
Derek Fisher has more than two years remaining on his term as NBPA President. Hunter has three years remaining on his deal. Will both be in power after the U.S. Attorneys office gets done with them? The play-offs may be in full swing, but the on-goings off the court may be just as explosive in the opinion of this sports law as the Fishers v. Hunters one on one match should be one to watch. Stay tuned!
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