Kings forward Harrison Barnes has been elected as the new Secretary-Treasurer of the National Basketball Players Association, according to a press release from the website. Barnes will begin his three-year term immediately and replace Anthony Tolliver.
“This is a great opportunity to get more involved in union business and I am very excited to join Chris [Paul], Andre [Iguodala] and the rest of the Executive Committee,” Barnes said. “Our union has an important role representing all 450 players and I am honored that my peers elected me to this position.”
Blazers guard CJ McCollum and Bulls wing Garrett Temple were also re-elected as Vice Presidents of the NBPA’s Executive Committee, the release said.
Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Free agent Jeremy Tyler has agreed to a deal in China with the Liaoning Flying Leopards, sources told Hoops Rumors. Tyler has played 104 games in his career, most recently spending time in Puerto Rico. He was the No. 39 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
- Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard plans to play in the Olympics this year, according to ESPN. Leonard would play for head coach Gregg Popovich, who coached the 29-year-old from 2011-18 — a run that included an NBA title and two Finals appearances. “My plan is to go,” Leonard said. “If I feel up to it and feel ready to go around that time, then I’m going to play.”
- Hall of Fame guard Gary Payton hinted at potentially coaching in the NBA soon, as relayed by Sean Deveney of Forbes.com. Payton made his intentions of coaching clear to Yahoo last year, confirming that his interests haven’t changed. “It is still the case. I got a surprise coming for a lot of people pretty soon,” he said. “I don’t want to announce it right now, but you’ll see it pretty soon in the next couple of weeks, I hope everybody will be excited about it.”
Would love to see Gary Payton on the Heat staff, if possible. Heat do a great job developing coaches, and his toughness and IQ is something that would fit right in. Would be especially helpful in developing our guards defensively, which is an area where improvement is needed
Interesting to see journeymen like Tolliver and Temple involved in the union. The fact that it is an elected office suggests that guys stick around in the NBA not just because of skills, but because they are popular with players. Temple has certainly been very popular with Bulls team mates this year, one of those intangibles of comradely that veteran players can bring.
4 year college guys. barnes 1 and done. paul and iggy 2 yr guys.
New Hawk’s coach?
I’d be okay with that. If for some reason Nate doesn’t want the job. I think Payton would be an awesome coach though.
Oh boy, talk ’bout arrogance!
What on earth makes Kawhi think he will play if he wants in the Olympics, shouldn’t he just put his name forward if he wants, & then, only then, if the selectors pick him, then he will play in the Olympics, SMH!
Understand what you’re saying, although I think it’s clear he’s in that upper class of players that can say something like that. He is top of the food chain and probably a top 5 player in the game
If he wants to be on the Olympic team, he’ll be given the opportunity