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He said that, ideally, the executive director should be someone removed from playing, with knowledge of the sport, to lead the NBPA in the future. One thing Stackhouse emphasized is the role the players need to play, “We have to be more in tune with what’s going on.” BrooklynFans.com

Brooklyn Nets, Billy Hunter, Jerry Stackhouse, NBPA 

"It's my business," Iguodala said. "That was part of the whole reason why so much of what happened, happened. Where we come from, guys aren't used to having what we have, and having access to it. So something like the union, it may not be as important to guys as it should be. But it's kind of like, we have to wake the guys up. They've got to have awareness. "I think guys have concerns and questions, but as long as those checks are coming in, they can get full. They can get satisfied. There's something that's bigger than just us. We've got to move forward for the guys coming in, and the next collective bargaining, and the one after that, and the one after that. "You have to set an environment of, this is how we handle business. We're going to get, the stereotypes are going to be, a bunch of African- American men, as long as they're getting paid, they're going to be fine with that. But we want to make it known where it's common that we care about our business, and we're involved. I think I can help in that area." NBA.com

Denver Nuggets, Andre Iguodala, CBA, NBPA 

There are a number of issues yet to be resolved from the lockout, including the "B List" non-economic issues. The league is hoping to get an agreement with the union on a new drug test for Human Growth Hormone. Commissioner David Stern said last month that he believes a deal will be worked out with the union on a blood test for HGH by next season. The NBPA has balked at making an agreement on HGH, but with the National Football Players Association and the Major League Baseball Players Association well down the road toward agreements for new HGH tests, the handwriting seems on the wall for the basketball union. NBA.com

CBA, NBPA 

Imagine what would happen today during a work stoppage if star free-agents publicly threatened to play an entire season overseas if a new CBA wasn't negotiated by a certain date. James not only was vocal in Houston but pledged that, short of joining the executive committee, he'd keep a hand in union affairs. "He has asked to be in a position where he's more heartily informed," a source said Sunday night. "He's pretty much said straight out to the players that while he can't commit time-wise to be in certain places he would be required to be, such as for executive committee meetings, he will be available for different assignments, other committees, and would make the time." NBA.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, NBPA 

If anything, these comments bring a bit more credence to a pre-All Star break column by Jason Whitlock, FoxSports.com’s opinionated and occasionally controversial writer, who detailed the jumbled mess that became of the NBA Players Union, ending in the firing of executive director Billy Hunter. In it, Whitlock, aided by a candid interview with former NBA player Maurice Evans, speculated that Fisher only used the Mavericks as a way to keep his position as union president. Oklahoman

Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Derek Fisher, NBPA 

Liz Mullen: NBPA on search for new Exec Dir to replace Billy Hunter: “The players are in the process of prioritizing their next steps," #NBA Twitter @SBJLizMullen

Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Marc J. Spears: NBA agent said,"I came to work today in a hearse with a black suit,black top hat because its dead out there."Blamed new CBA and Billy Hunter Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Trade, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Agents 

At All-Star weekend, LeBron James made his presence felt in places other than the arena. One such place was a meeting room, where James, according to reports from The New York Times, turned in a “spectacular” performance “cross-examining” lawyers who had prepared an audit of activities related to embattled Players Association executive director Billy Hunter — with that performance playing some role in Hunter’s firing. Which raised a question: How did James, with all his other endeavors, find the time to educate himself on the issues? “Me and J.J talked about it,” James said, referring to the team’s union representative and Players Association secretary James Jones. “I’ve also been reading a lot of articles. My team does a good job of sending me e-mails of what’s been going on, and I try to stay on it as much as I can. I’m not as far in it as J.J. is, but I’m far enough to know what I’m talking about, the situation that was going on. So it’s my opinion, and I felt like my opinion needed to be heard.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, LeBron James, James Jones, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Jones called the conversations with James a “two-way street,” as they bounce ideas and opinions back and forth. “He’s inquisitive,” Jones said. “That’s one thing I learned as a kid, my Mom always told me to ask questions,” James said. “If you don’t know something, ask it. I thank my Mom for that. I was never afraid in class to ask a question, if I didn’t know an equation, or whatever the case may be.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, LeBron James, James Jones, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

By the time the meeting had ended, executive director Billy Hunter had been dismissed, and Stackhouse had been elected to a newly formed executive committee as its first vice president, helping to shepherd in what he called a “transitional period” for the NBPA. “The most important thing was rehashing the stuff with Hunter and making a decision to move forward,” Stackhouse told The Post Tuesday morning. “Obviously there was a lot of things that happened over the years, but we focused on moving forward right now. “We’ve had some system malfunctions, but the group we have now is a good group of guys that is committed to doing whatever it takes to put the union [in a better place]. We’re not in a bad place financially, or anything like that, but it could be better.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Billy Hunter, Jerry Stackhouse, NBPA 

“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 

James, who previously had taken a limited role in union affairs in his NBA career, was joined by the Nets’ Jerry Stackhouse and Denver’s Andre Iguodala on Saturday as being among the most outspoken players in demanding change at the top. “To his credit, LeBron asked a lot of questions concerning Hunter’s legal problems,’’ said one person who was briefed by several players on the meeting. “But really, everyone’s minds were made up before the meeting. LeBron stayed longer than he needed to. He called for Billy's firing. But so did Jerry Stackhouse and Andre Iguodala and several other players. LeBron was very good talking about the need for players to do more with the union and to have more representation.’’ New York Daily News

Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Andre Iguodala, LeBron James, 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