Fred VanVleet has got himself a new title: president.
The former Toronto Raptors guard and current Houston Rockets player was elected the new president of the National Basketball Players Association, the NBPA announced on Saturday.
“It’s truly an honor to be elected as President of the NBPA by my peers, and I look forward to continuing to advocate for the best interest of all the members,” said VanVleet in a statement. “With a deep appreciation for the complexities and challenges players face on all levels of their NBA journeys, I am committed to approaching this role with the passion, dignity, and dedication every player deserves."
VanVleet will begin a four-year term as the union's next leader, succeeding Washington Wizards' guard CJ McCollum, who will continue to serve on the executive committee in an advisory capacity. The 12-year veteran has been part of NBPA leadership for seven years — the first three as a vice president (2018-2021) and the last four as president (2021-2025).
"It's been a privilege to serve on the NBPA Executive Committee for the past seven years and uniquely shape the business of our game," said McCollum. "I am encouraged by the future of the PA under Fred’s leadership, as he has earned the basketball community's respect and has proven he is ready for this next step. I look forward to supporting him as we continue building a stronger Association that serves past, present, and future generations of players."
For VanVleet, it's the latest milestone in an already unheralded journey as he readies for his 10th NBA season after going undrafted to start his career. The one-time all-star spent the first seven years as a pro with the Raptors — playing a pivotal role in the team's 2019 title run — before signing with the Rockets (for three years at $128.5 million) ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
And although Houston declined VanVleet's $44.9 million club option heading into 2025-26, the team instead re-signed the lead guard to a two-year, $50 million contract (per Spotrac).
His multiple NBA deals have made him the highest-earning undrafted player in league history.
The 31-year-old averaged 14.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists as he helped the Rockets take a major leap up the standings to the No. 2 seed after being 11th the year before. He'll now play a key role for a revamped Rockets team that traded for 15-time all-star Kevin Durant earlier in the off-season and made impact signings with Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela.
As president of the NBPA, VanVleet will serve as the primary representative for all players in the league, working with the union's executive committee — which includes current Raptors veteran Garrett Temple, who has been a vice president since 2017 — to oversee matters like collective bargaining agreements and players' rights.
