Nets G Irving elected VP of players' union

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving has been elected vice president of the players' union, the NBPA announced. Irving replaces 18-year NBA veteran Pau Gasol, whose three-year term expired. Irving's three-year term begins immediately.

"This was the right time for me to run for a leadership position in the NBPA," said Irving, a nine-year NBA veteran, and six-time All-Star. "I have been an observer and a participant in union affairs for a while, but for the most part, I was off on the sidelines, supporting our Executive Committee as they made important decisions. "At this point in my career, I wanted to join forces with those guys and take a bigger role outside of the basketball court and within our union. I want to help move the union forward with innovative ideas, not only on social issues but also with business ventures into a new space. I am honored to be elected by my peers and I cannot wait to work with everybody to make an impact."

"We are thrilled to have Kyrie join us as the newest Vice President," NBPA president Chris Paul in a statement said. "Having a player of his caliber coupled with his off the court business acumen will help us to continue to strengthen the union as a whole and empower our individual voices as players." Irving, 27, joins the NBPA executive committee that includes Oklahoma City's Paul (president), Miami's Andre Iguodala (first vice president), Sacramento's Anthony Tolliver (secretary-treasurer), and other vice presidents including Charlotte's Bismack Biyombo, Indiana's Malcolm Brogdon, Boston's Jaylen Brown, Portland's CJ McCollum and Brooklyn teammate Garrett Temple.

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