Stephen Curry said LeBron James was “very vocal” in NBA players’ union meeting

Former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden said it was good to not only see LeBron James seated up front with union leadership Monday, but to see him at a National Basketball Players’ Association meeting at all.

“I’m jokingly saying this because I’m his boy, I’d never seen ‘Bron at a meeting before,” said Gooden, now with the Washington Wizards, following the players’ union summer meetings at the Four Seasons hotel in Las Vegas.

James’ election and his message Monday, according to several players who attended the meetings, was one about unity, power for the players, and union participation (like, say, showing up for the meetings) ahead of likely new collective bargaining sessions with NBA owners over the next two years.

But players described a lively discussion led by James, union president Chris Paul, and others like Finals MVP Andre Iguodala and even former Cavalier Lou Amundson about getting on the same page as a union before going back to the bargaining table.

Former Cavalier and current San Antonio sharpshooter Danny Green said James “pretty much helped the players understand things about backing the union.

Gooden said after playing 12 seasons without much participation in union affairs, James served Monday as the “voice of the guys on the other side of the podium.