Houston Rockets Fred Vanvleet Named President of NBPA

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Horace Shivers | Last updated Jul 12, 2025 8:20 PM ET

In a significant leadership move, veteran NBA guard Fred VanVleet has been officially elected as the new President of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), the labor union that represents all NBA players. The announcement was made at the NBPA's annual summer meeting, where player representatives voted to elevate one of their most respected voices into the top position.

McCollum's four-year term expired and he will now serve in an advisory position. Major new union role for VanVleet, the 2019 NBA champion who has signed multiple deals that have set records for the highest paid undrafted player ever in the league. https://t.co/BuTLTyI8lm
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 12, 2025

VanVleet, an NBA champion, is a known leader in the locker room. He succeeds former president CJ McCollum. He brings years of experience, credibility among peers, and a strong reputation for balancing competitive fire with professionalism.

As NBPA President, VanVleet will work closely with Executive Director Andre Iguodala and the union's leadership team to represent players in key negotiations, including Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) matters such as player safety, welfare policies, mental health, social justice initiatives, marketing, licensing, and revenue-sharing agreements.

With this new leadership, the NBPA enters a new era focused on unity, transparency, and player empowerment. Whether addressing off-court issues like financial literacy or on-court concerns like load management and scheduling, VanVleet is expected to be a steady and thoughtful presence.

It's been a good year for VanVleet, who signed a two-year $50 million contract to remain with Houston earlier this offseason.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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