NBPA executive committee asks President Derek Fisher to resign; Fisher staying put - NBA Update
The rift between National basketball Players Association (NBPA) Executive Director Billy Hunter and president Derek Fisher has escalated and in the latest development, the executive committee has unanimously asked Fisher to step
down.
Fisher, the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard, was unilaterally voted against by the eight committee members, who have asked for his resignation. The veteran point guard has apparently decided to do otherwise and asked the players
to seek a review of the union finances.
“I, along with many others, are extremely disappointed with the Executive Committee. Their demand for my resignation and their need to protect the NBPA management and their own best interests instead of protecting the players we
were elected to serve is unfortunate”.
The situation worsened last week when Fisher called for a business review of the associations’ finances.
Fisher and Hunter have been at odds since the end of the lockout season. Both executives were understood to be at odds and at one point there was a vibe that Fisher has cut an under hand deal with the NBA Commissioner David Stern.
It was however never verified and seemed more like a propaganda move.
On Wednesday, Hunter publically denounced Fisher. During a press conference, he accused Derek of being engaged in detrimental conducts and acting against player’s interest during the collective bargaining negotiations. Hunter also
asserted that Fisher has been taking decisions which were unilateral and were not in keeping with the NBPA constitution.
He also deemed Fisher’s demand of an early audit totally unnecessary;
“The NBPA performs annual financial audits and shares the results of those audits with the Executive Committee and Player Representatives at its annual meetings. The NBPA completed a financial audit in February and will share the
results at the union's summer meeting”.
The whole saga has drawn responses from the players as well and most of them seem to be siding with Fisher. Steve Blake, Laker coach Mike Brown and star guard Kobe Bryant are some of the few who have put their weight behind the
NBA veteran. Kobe, a long time friend of Fisher saw nothing wrong with an audit, indicating it will only help in settling the union issues;
"What's wrong with doing an audit? I'm very curious about that. Extremely. We all should be," Bryant said.
Tags: