How Andre Iguodala Silently Took Control of the NBPA in Just 3 Months—And What It Means for the Future of the NBA

Andre Iguodala is now the full-time executive director of the NBPA, having quietly shed his interim tag last year without any formal announcement from the union.

In February 2024, according to someone familiar with the matter, the NBPA’s executive committee and board of player reps, which includes members of all 30 teams, voted to make Iguodala’s position more permanent with a new multiyear contract. There was no formal process that included any outside candidates, said the person, who was granted anonymity because the process was not public.

A union rep declined to comment on the specifics of the process or his contract. Iguodala, currently in Spain for a week-long offseason performance retreat for players, also declined to comment.

He has, however, reshaped the union’s leadership over the past year. In February the NBPA hired David Kelly, then the chief legal officer of the Golden State Warriors, to be the union’s managing director. It’s common for sports unions to be led by executives with legal experience, and Kelly, who also serves as the union’s general counsel, now heads the union’s legal efforts as a supplement to Iguodala’s leadership.

He has been an active investor as well, both as a player and after retiring, including venture and early-stage investments in Coinbase, Allbirds, Zoom, DataDog and Dapper Labs, which has partnered with both the union and the league on its Top Shot NFT product. He is co-founder and managing partner of Mosaic, a 0 million venture capital firm; Mosaic’s portfolio includes Athletes First, an agency primarily representing NFL players.

When Andre Iguodala stepped into the role of acting executive director for the NBPA in late 2023, many thought it was just a stopgap—a temporary gig until the union found its next leader. Yet, here we are, well past that trial phase, and Iguodala’s “acting” tag has quietly vanished. Without much fanfare or formal announcements, he’s transitioned into the full-time executive director, sealed with a multiyear contract approved by the union’s top brass. What’s fascinating here isn’t just the seamless shift from hardwood hero to union head honcho, but the subtle way he’s been shaping the NBPA’s future behind the scenes—quietly, deliberately, and with a vision that’s starting to ripple across every franchise. It’s a move that’s caught some folks off guard given the hush-hush nature of the decision and Iguodala’s low-profile style compared to his predecessor. As a former player who’s run the gamut—from NBA Finals MVP to savvy investor and minority owner in major sports franchises—Iguodala’s leadership marks a new era for the players’ union. Let me tell you, this is far from your usual power transition in sports unions; it’s one that’s rich with experience, savvy business moves, and a promise of steady stewardship through the current NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement. The question now is how this quiet ascendancy will influence the union’s next moves and the lives of every NBA player under his watch. LEARN MORE

Iguodala has kept a low profile since assuming the acting position in 2023—a contrast to Tremaglio. He doesn’t do many formal interviews or speaking events in his capacity with the union, nor does he show up often in union press releases. His official status at the union has continued to create confusion in news reports for more than a year after the “acting” label was removed. 

Kelly is one of a handful of union leaders to have joined under Iguodala’s tenure. Others include chief people officer Michelle Crenshaw, chief financial officer Cameron Jones, EVP for player operations Morgan Cato, and VP of brand communications Jacinda Ortiz.

The union did not publicize Iguodala’s new status or his contract. The word “acting” was removed from Iguodala’s bio on the union website at some point in between Feb. 19 and March 1 of 2024, according to a review of cached pages. The NBPA used the new, shorter title—without the word “acting”—in a press release in August.

Iguodala made 5.2 million in salary across his 19-year NBA career, according to Spotrac. He was a four-time NBA champion, and was MVP of the Finals in 2015 with the Golden State Warriors. As a player he served for more than a decade on the NBPA’s executive committee, including a four-year term as first vice president from 2019-2023.

Iguodala’s salary is set by the union’s player reps. He was paid .8 million in the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30, 2024, according to the NBPA’s LM-2 filing, with .09 million of that in gross salary.

Iguodala is a minority owner in NWSL franchise Bay FC, English soccer club Leeds United and the TGL franchise in San Francisco. He invested in the latter two teams alongside other active NBA players, including Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Larry Nance Jr. and T.J. McConnell. Iguodala disclosed all of his necessary investments as part of his transition to becoming executive director, the source said.

Iguodala became “acting executive director” in late 2023, replacing Tamika Tremaglio following her dismissal from the NBPA. At the time, it appeared Iguodala would hold the role until a permanent successor took over—Sportico’s story on his appointment called it “temporary”—but that changed over the course of his first three months on the job.

The NBA’s current CBA, which took effect in 2023, runs through the 2029-30 season.