LeBron James misses practice with Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, Nov. 21 to give deposition in a lawsuit from the former executive in the NBA players union Billy Hunter. Chris Paul and other players were also deposed.
Hunter sued the union for the wrongful termination of his contract as the executive direcotor of National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). He seeks for $10.5 million in salary and benefits, as reported by NBA. Hunter claimed that the NBPA undermined him during the 2011 lockout and he was sacked in 2013 during the NBA All-Star weekend.
James who serves as vice president of the union, was deposed along with other players. His team mates James Jones and LA Clippers point guard Chris Paul, who currently serves as the president of NBPA were also deposed.
In the 2011 NBA lockout, the NBPA and the NBA was unable to find the resolution for Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA), and Hunter was the executive director of the NBPA. Subsequently, NBPA was dissolved and re-formed in November 2011.
NBA and the players union reached the agreement in December 2011 and the shortened NBA season commenced. Hunter was accused for irregularities during his tenure and an external audits was performed on him. After the audit, on Feb. 16, 2013 select committee of NBA players unanimously fired him.
Michelle Roberts, a litigator was appointed to replace Hunter. In an interview with CBS Sports, Hunter said the he felt victimized after he wasn't allowed to counter any accusations against him before his termination.
Hunter filed a complaint to the court in May 2013, followed by seeral counter claims from the NBPA. After years of legal battle, Hunter won a major contention point in June this year, as the court threw out 12 of 14 counterclaims from NBPA.
Watch the report from Sports Illustrated regarding Billy Hunter lawsuit against LeBron James, Chris Paul and the NBA Players association below:
