Sources Say NBPA's Billy Hunter Placed On Indefinite Leave In First Step Toward Removal

The NBPA Friday morning placed Exec Dir Billy Hunter on an “indefinite leave of absence,” according to sources cited by Adrian Wojnarowski of YAHOO SPORTS. Sources said that the move is the “first step in a process led by NBPA president Derek Fisher to have Hunter removed as executive director.” NBPA General Counsel Ron Klempner has “taken over as interim executive director.” Sources added that the NBPA’s leadership has “retained outside counsel to help it through the suspension of Hunter, and plans to push the membership to oust Hunter.” Fisher in a memo sent to players Friday morning said, “Unfortunately, it appears that Union management has lost sight of the NBPA’s only task, to serve the best interests of their membership” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/1). ESPN.com’s Marc Stein reports the NBPA also announced that it has “formed an interim executive committee and advisory committee.” According to union bylaws, the committee will “consist of the five active members of the most recent executive board” (ESPN.com, 2/1).