NBA players, under the leadership of NBPA Exec Dir Michele Roberts, are "expected to seek what they say would be a more equitable split of basketball-related income" between now and Dec. '16, according to Ben Bolch of the L.A. TIMES. Roberts said, "There's a ton of money coming in, so no one can claim poverty and therefore take the position to try to prevent some concessions for the players." Roberts, in a recent interview, included "gasp-inducing comments about the salary cap being 'un-American' and the ability to replace owners compared to the players." She said, "I was not attempting to cast aspersions on their success, but let me point out that there are no shortage of people who would love to own an NBA team and we have to admit that there is a shortage of spectacular basketball players who could compete in the NBA, so I don't know that anything I said was as controversial as people think I was." Roberts' "aggressive stance has been hailed by players as a welcome change after the concessions made by her predecessor, Billy Hunter, in the last CBA." Clippers G and NBPA President Chris Paul said, "She's a woman who's not going to back down and she understands the task at hand and I think the thing that makes her so valuable to us is how selfless she is. It's not about her being in the spotlight, it's all about getting the job done and I'm excited that we have her." Bolch noted Roberts currently is on "what she described as a getting-to-know-you tour of teams." She has already hired eight new people in her N.Y. office, "expanding her staff to 22 employees plus nine retired players based elsewhere" (L.A. TIMES, 12/28).
