Rockford’s Fred VanVleet elected president of the NBA players union

July 12, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In Sports, Featured, Rock River Current, News, 815 News, Rockford, Top Stories, Positive & Uplifting
Fred VanVleet gives instructions on Saturday, June 24, 2023, during his summer camp at Auburn High School in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The National Basketball Players Association announced Saturday that Rockford native and Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet was elected as the union’s president.

VanVleet’s four-year term begins immediately. He succeeds CJ McCollum.

“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,” VanVleet said in a statement released by the NBPA. “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 was elected during the annual summer meeting of the Board of Player Representatives.

The 31-year-old Rockford native and 2012 Auburn High School graduate has spent nine years in the NBA, winning a title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. He now plays for the Houston Rockets, who recently signed him to a new two-year deal worth $50 million with a player option in the 2026-27 season.

VanVleet, who was an all-star in 2022, remains committed to his hometown, where The VanVleet Family Foundation is involved in a variety of charitable efforts. He also hosts annual youth basketball camps and fundraisers here in Rockford.

“Beyond the court, VanVleet is committed to philanthropy and advocacy,” the NBPA said in a news release. “As a father of three, VanVleet demonstrates his leadership and commitment both on and off the court.”

The NBPA executive committee consists of:

  • Fred VanVleet, president
  • Grant Williams, first vice president
  • Mason Plumlee, secretary-treasurer
  • Jaylen Brown, vice president
  • Jaren Jackson Jr., vice president,
  • Donovan Mitchell, vice president
  • Garrett Temple, vice president
  • Karl Anthony Towns, vice president
  • Gabe Vincent, vice president

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas