The NBPA has voted to “seek the resignation of union president Derek Fisher ... at the urging” of Exec Dir Billy Hunter, according to sources cited by Adrian Wojnarowski of YAHOO SPORTS. Sources said that Fisher has “flatly refused to step down and has been working to gather a coalition of players to challenge Hunter’s business and financial practices.” Fisher reportedly has “told peers he will not resign, but rather fight Hunter for further transparency regarding the NBPA.” Wojnarowski reported the “showdown has been building for months,” as Hunter has been “unpopular with many players and agents for his lockout strategies, which led to unprecedented givebacks in last summer's labor battle with the league.” Mistrust “grew between Hunter and Fisher during the lockout, with players choosing sides between the two.” Hunter on Tuesday had his legal team "send a brief memo" to players telling them that an independent audit to look into Hunter’s finances and practices -- that “had initially been voted upon [last] Friday -- had been cancelled” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/19). SI.com’s Sam Amick cited a source as saying that Fisher’s “strong suspicions remain about the way in which the union's business has been run in recent years.” The source said that “support outside of the union is growing among players and agents.” While the NBPA Exec Committee has “made its stance known, there are plenty of others among the league's 400-plus players who were highly critical of Hunter and the union during the lockout.” Fisher has “two more seasons left on his term as NBPA president;” Hunter's contract runs through '16 (SI.com, 4/19).
