The National Players Basketball Association has voted in favor of the formation of a G League players' union, one that would match the player-led representation of its constituents in its mirrored subsidiary, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Now that the NBA players have voted, the next step will be the formal approval at the G League level now that the father league has given its nod of approval.
G League players had been hoping to unionize for quite a while, taking the first steps of making that come to fruition in December during the G League Showcase in Las Vegas.
The proposal was met with great enthusiasm from its NBA counterparts, as it would allow G League players to make better wages, work benefits, and freedom of movement — considering players now are capped by the umbrella of the corresponding NBA affiliate.
“We support the players’ right to unionize,” G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim told Charania in December. “We view this as a positive thing and are looking to continue to grow our league for the players to develop and accomplish their dreams.”
The base salary for a G League player was $35,000 in 2018 from the previous $19,000 or $26,000 tiers. Unionizing was deemed “inevitable” since players have looked to improve their job circumstances.
“Travel, housing, a little more money — it’ll be about small gains,” said a G League general manager back in December.“The G League probably doesn’t generate enough revenue for wholesale changes unless we tap into the NBA’s BRI (basketball related income), but unionizing can be a start.”
As it sits now, G League players on two-way contracts can only play in the NBA for 45 days, which includes gamedays and practices after a provision removed travel days from its original inclusion.
After the 45 days expire, the player can no longer take part in NBA games for that season unless signed to a full-fledged NBA deal.
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