Heat F LeBron James is "mulling a bid for the union's presidency," according to a source cited by Jason Whitlock of FOXSPORTS.com. The source said, "It’s something he has talked about with a small group of people. He was very vocal at the meeting during the All-Star Weekend about the need for the union to dramatically change." The NBPA "could elect its new president as early as late August when it holds its summer meetings in Las Vegas." However, the source "cautioned that he thinks it’s 'unlikely'" James will seek the presidency. James' potential presidency would "provide a huge star-power dynamic that has been missing from the union since Patrick Ewing was president" from '97-'01. Since Ewing, the union has "been led by role players." James would be the "first in-his-prime union president since Isiah Thomas ran the association while leading the Pistons to back-to-back championships" in the '80s (FOXSPORTS.com, 8/1). ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst writes the "biggest consideration for James will be the time commitment being the union president would require." James has "limited time to give because of sponsorship and charity commitments in addition to playing." Deep playoff runs with the Heat the past three seasons "have also been taxing" (ESPN.com, 8/1).
NOT ENOUGH SPACE: NBCSPORTS.com's Brett Pollakoff wrote demands on his time "is the core issue, and the reason someone like James could never successfully handle the duties of union president while flourishing as the game’s best player simultaneously." In addition to his team "regularly playing into June each season, LeBron’s schedule is packed with other engagements representing the league, as well as personal endorsement deals that require various trips and appearances." There is a "reason guys like Derek Fisher and Maurice Evans were so prominently involved in union issues recently, with Jerry Stackhouse handling things so far this offseason." To "put it bluntly, they don’t have a whole lot going on outside of their regular team responsibilities, which are fairly limited at this late stage of their respective careers" (NBCSPORTS.com, 7/31).
