Just weeks after announcing his retirement from the NBA, Andre Iguodala has been appointed as the acting executive director of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). The Athletics’ Shams Charania was the first to report the news.
For the time being, Iguodala is only expected to serve in the position on a temporary basis. He’ll replace Tamika Tremaglio, who has stepped down to pursue other opportunities. Andre Iguodala just finished up his term as the first vice president of the NBPA in February. He’s served on the Executive committee since 2010. Through that, Iguodala already has a positive working relationship with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Most notably, they worked together through their efforts to create the bubble during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
He retired from playing in October after a 19-year career with five teams, including two stints with the Golden State Warriors, where he won four NBA Championships.
Iguodala earned a tremendous amount of respect not only from his peers, but across the league. He’s been expanding his brand as a businessman over the past few years. That will earn him more credibility in the boardroom. If Iguodala wants to continue with the position in a long-term setting, pending NBPA allowance, he’ll have a chance to grow into the position without the pressure of a CBA.
The newest Collective Bargaining Assignment was agreed upon in April and runs through the 2029-30 season. If Iguodala is hired permanently, it would mark the first time in history that the NBPA will have a former NBA player serving as the executive director. Though, it isn’t the first time that a player has served in an interim capacity.
“He was a foundational piece of what has been one of the great runs in NBA history,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said after Iguodala announced his retirement. “In many ways, Andre set the tone for the whole thing by agreeing to come off the bench in 2014-15 — really sacrificing and making the move that unlocked the team, that allowed Harrison [Barnes] to thrive, that strengthened our bench, but also set a time for unselfishness, and team-first mentality.”
***
Subscribe to Fantom’s Twitch!
Follow us on the NewsBreak App!
Want to write for us? Click here.