Irving Replaces Gasol as Vice President of NBPA

Kyrie Irving was elected to replace Pau Gasol in the position of vice president of the Nation Basketball Players Association. The Nets guard will join the NBPA’s executive committee that is currently led by president Chris Paul.

ESPN provided Irving’s comments on the news:

“This was the right time for me to run for a leadership position in the NBPA,” Irving said. “I have been an observer and a participant in union affairs for a while, but for the most part, I was off on the sidelines, supporting our Executive Committee as they made important decisions. At this point in my career, I wanted to join forces with those guys and take a bigger role outside of the basketball court and within our union.”

Irving, who was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, joins current Blazers guard CJ McCollum and former Blazers forward Anthony Tolliver on the executive committee.