NBA’s Best Players ‘Irresponsibly Apathetic’ to Union, Falk Says

David Falk, one of the most powerful men in basketball as Michael Jordan’s agent, said superstar players and their representatives have been “irresponsibly apathetic” and deserve blame for their union’s current troubles.

“The players have allowed this situation to occur,” said Falk, whose clients include Basketball Hall of Fame members Jordan and former National Basketball Players Association President Patrick Ewing.

More important than who is leading the union, Falk said, is engagement and participation from the players, especially stars like reigning Most Valuable Player LeBron James.

Falk, who still represents players, criticized some of the more powerful agents for not getting their clients involved, particularly at the executive committee level.

He mentioned Bill Duffy, whose clients include Boston’s Rajon Rondo and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Steve Nash; Jeff Schwartz, who represents Williams and Boston’s Paul Pierce; Leon Rose, whose clients include New York’s Carmelo Anthony and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul; and Rob Pelinka, who represents the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant.

None of Falk’s current clients hold board-level positions in the union, while two serve as team player representatives — Toney Douglas of the Houston Rockets and Evan Turner of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Players should consider what DeMaurice Smith has done as head of the National Football League Players Association.