More than 100 NBA players are using a new phone app launched by the National Basketball Players Association to communicate with its members about union business and other matters affecting players.
The app was launched a few weeks ago and was rolled out at the NBA All-Star Game.
“The need to facilitate communication between the union and our members is a constant and ongoing effort,” NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts said in an email. “The app provides an additional and valuable tool towards that end. It provides a secure and real-time method of communication with the players that also allows player feedback and reaction.”
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The new app allows the union to post video messages to members.
Photo by: SPORTSBLOG.COM |
SportsBlog.com, which has a long-term partnership with the union, created the app. Financial terms of the deal, including the costs of developing it, were not disclosed.
Kevin April, chief operating officer of SportsBlog.com, said the NBPA distributed the app to players at the NBPA swag suite during the All-Star Weekend in New York. “We are able to track activity on the back end, so that is how we know we have more than 100 players engaged,” April said.
April would not identify which players were using it but said they included “some A-listers.” The NBPA has more than 400 members.
The union can use the app to post text as well as video, April said. “So for instance, Chris Paul posted a video message that was blasted out to all of the players that asked them to come to a player meet-up,” April said. That was the most viewed content on the app so far, he added.
Roberts may use the app to post a “state of the union” video address to members in the near future, April said.
The app enables communication not just for pressing and major matters such as the collective-bargaining agreement, but day-to-day issues, as well.
“Players have the ability to use it to appeal technical fouls and contact the PA, and we are definitely seeing them use it for that purpose,” April said.
SportsBlog.com first developed the app for WNBA players to use during their CBA negotiations in 2013.
