Last month, the NBA’s 2016 rookie class went through the NBPA Rookie Transition Program in the new NBPA headquarters in Manhattan, New York.
During the session, the rookies listened in on talks from NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts and President Chris Paul. Other speakers included Pistons legend Isiah Thomas as well as union executive Roger Mason and Hall-of-Famer Spencer Haywood. The speakers were there to provide support for the incoming rookie class and to give them a look into how the NBPA works and why they’re there.
“They had departmental discussions where each of our union departments — whether that was finance, whether that was digital, whether that was legal — had to discuss with the players what they do, how they do it and what their role is within the union,” said Purvis Short, the NBPA’s Director of Player Programs.
In between speakers, the rookie class got a look at the facilities, which included a weight room, a full basketball court that is still currently under construction and a hydroworks area that includes ice tubs, hot tubs and an underwater treadmill
The NBPA announced that it would be moving its headquarters in September 2015 and the 2016 rookie transition program is the first held at the new NBPA offices.
