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“It’s really important,” Stackhouse said. “Our superstars got somewhat alienated under Hunter because there was so much focus on the middle class and the lower-level guys. “It was somewhat of a ‘divide-and-conquer’ [strategy] … it sounds great that you created a [higher] average salary and all of this type of thing, but it was more [about] having more of those guys on your side, even though it’s a superstar driven league. New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Billy Hunter, Jerry Stackhouse, NBPA 

As part of those criticisms of the union leadership, Stackhouse had publicly pushed for a more democratic process to go into every decision the group makes, among other changes. It was a big reason why he was so intent on being present at the meeting in Houston, and when he presented those views to the players, he found the room to be in agreement with him. “Everybody was very receptive to my ideas,” Stackhouse said. “Now, it’s just kind of getting in and locking those ideas down. Nobody really had, I guess, the guts to step up and challenge and say, ‘Everybody here works for us, we don’t work for you. You have to take some consideration for how we feel and what we want, because at the end of the day, it’s our union.’ “I think that’s established now.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Billy Hunter, Jerry Stackhouse, NBPA 

Billy Hunter's 17-year run as the National Basketball Players Association's executive director came to inglorious end Saturday. The NBPA executive committee comprised of players, including President Derek Fisher, fired the embattled Hunter amid serious concerns surrounding Hunter's business practices as union leader. "Today for the National Basketball Players Association was a day of change," Fisher said. "Players representatives in the general body of our association have made their voice and their votes heard. Today, the motion was raised, seconded and passed unanimously that we will terminate the employment of Billy Hunter." USA Today Sports

Derek Fisher, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Also of serious concern is "purported agreement between the NBPA and Prim Capital," according to Paul, Weiss. Prim Capital is the firm that employs Hunter's son, Todd, and had a business relationship with the NBPA at $602,000 a year. "For example, we were informed repeatedly by Union employees over the course of the investigation that the 2005 Agreement was the NBPA's most recent contract with Prim," the report stated. "Theresa Messer reported that although she had raised with Prim the need for a written contract on multiple occasions and had been told that one would be prepared, she never received a new agreement. When asked about this document, Messer and Shelia Thompson, the members of the Finance Department responsible for managing the Union's relationship with Prim, reported that they had never seen it and had not known that it existed. USA Today Sports

Derek Fisher, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

All in all, there were some positives to take out of the day for the NBPA. One of the strongest voices in the meeting was that of LeBron James, the league’s biggest star. There was, top to bottom, a sense that players in the room needed to be more involved in their union, and give the job to someone on whom they will keep regular tabs, someone won’t deal in the shadows the way Hunter did, someone who won’t create and hide behind internal strife as a means of self-protection. “We will no longer be divided, misled and misinformed,” Fisher said. “This is our union. We’re taking it back.” Unfortunately, though, they won’t be taking it back without a fight. “I do not consider today's vote the end,” Hunter said, “only a different beginning.” Sporting News

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Derek Fisher, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Jeff Zillgitt: Billy Hunter: "I have yet to receive any notification, other than published news reports, that the NBPA has terminated my employment." Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Howard Beck: More Billy Hunter: "I do not consider today's vote the end, only a different beginning." Twitter @HowardBeckNYT

Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Ken Berger: Hunter: "Legal team and I will begin ... reviewing the actions taken and statements made against me in the meeting room in my absence." Twitter @KBergCBS

Billy Hunter, NBPA 

The National Basketball Players Association voted to remove Billy Hunter as executive director of the union at a meeting on Saturday, union president Derek Fisher announced at a brief press conference. And by brief, I mean, 3 minutes, 30 seconds, and after that they walked out of the room without taking questions from media. Well, then. Fisher said he will remain president, and the new executive committee includes Matt Bonner, James Jones, Jerry Stackhouse, Andre Iguodala, Roger Mason , Stephen Curry, Willie Green and Chris Paul. CBSSports.com

Derek Fisher, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Adrian Wojnarowski: The NBPA player rep vote on Billy Hunter's ouster was 24-0, sources tell Y! Apparently, six teams weren't represented at meeting. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Gary Washburn: The NBPA expects a lawsuit from Billy Hunter and they are 99 percent likely to get one. This is far from over #nbpa Twitter @GwashNBAGlobe

Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Jonathan Feigen: Fisher: "We do not doubt this process will continue in an ugly way." OK then. Twitter @Jonathan_Feigen

Derek Fisher, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Says one official in NBPA meeting: "LeBron really stepped up, led the charge. His voice was heard. It was great, and it was important." Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Sam Amick: Media, particularly @Brian Mahoney, stunned as Derek Fisher doesn't field questions about unanimous vote to oust Billy Hunter. Twitter @sam_amick

Derek Fisher, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Billy Hunter has been voted out as NBPA executive director, sources tell Y! Sports. Twitter

Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Player reps voted in decisive manner to oust Hunter, sources tell Y! LeBron James spoke in meeting, insisting the union needed overhaul. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Ken Berger: If tenor of agent meeting today is any indication, it's over for Billy Hunter. "Hunter is done," one person in meeting said. Twitter @KBergCBS

Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Ken Berger: At meeting here in Houston, Paul-Weiss lawyers just finished presenting summary of Billy Hunter report to player agents. Twitter @KBergCBS

Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Embattled NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter has taken to the Internet to present his case to remain in his post after he was not invited to Saturday’s union meeting here that is expected to determine his future as director. Through a series of blog posts at http://gbillyhunter.blogspot.com, Hunter offered a rebuttal, stating that his contract is legal under Delaware law, where it was consummated; that he did not commit any illegal acts during his tenure, such as steal or embezzle funds; and that his administrative leave of absence was not fairly executed because the entire executive committee did not vote. Boston Globe

Billy Hunter, NBPA 

The players association will meet Saturday afternoon, at which time representatives of every team are expected to voice their vote about whether Hunter should be removed. Hunter insists he has been banned from making a statement to the players at that gathering. “We have been asking for two weeks if we can come. The message from the interim executive committee was you are not coming,” said Michael Carlinsky, one of Hunter’s attorney’s. “On every call I have raised this issue of attending with their lawyers and they have said consistently you can continue assuming you are not coming. How convenient it is for the lawyers now to be suggesting they have not definitely told us one way or other, where for two weeks we’ve been asking. This is just convenience on their side because we understood their message to be you can’t come.” Boston Globe

Billy Hunter, NBPA