National Basketball Association

Report: LeBron James, Chris Paul deposed in NBPA lawsuit

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, his teammate James Jones and Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul were served with deposition notices in former National Basketball Players Association executive director Billy Hunter's lawsuit against the union, reports ESPN.com's Ethan Strauss.

Paul is the union president, James serves as vice president and Jones is the union's secretary treasurer.

Hunter originally sued the NBPA and former NBPA president Derek Fisher for breach of contract, saying he is owed more than $10.5 million in salary and benefits after he felt that the union tried to undermine his authority during the league’s 2011 lockout, and then conspired to have him fired after a new Collective Bargaining Agreement was completed. A judge later dismissed most of the claims against Fisher.

Fisher was served with his notice in February, according to the report.

Hunter was fired during the 2013 All-Star Break, which led to him suing the union and Fisher months later. A court ruled in January 2014 that the union were well within their rights to fire Hunter, allowing Hunter to later clarify the lawsuit stating he should receive the rest of the compensation in his contract.

The union hired attorney Ted Wells, who conducted investigations in the NFL’s bullying and Deflategate scandals, to look into Hunter’s activities as the union's executive director.

The report accused Hunter of nepotism, conflicts of interest and misuse of funds, and determined that Hunter’s actions “were inconsistent with his fiduciary obligations to put the interests of the Union above his personal interests."

NBPA has been ordered turn over the documents regarding that investigation. The two sides set for a hearing on Nov. 3.

- Scooby Axson

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