NBA Notes: LeBron James named NBAPA vice president

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NEW YORK -- LeBron James is about to play a new power position -- vice president.

The Cavaliers star was unanimously elected first vice president of the National Basketball Players Association on Friday, giving the game's top player a leadership role within a union set to square off in the future with the league's owners over revenue.

James was elected during the union's annual meeting as part of All-Star weekend at a hotel near Times Square. A person familiar with James' election said Clippers All-Star guard Chris Paul, the union's president, had urged the four-time MVP to accept a prominent role within the union. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity before union executive director Michele Roberts announced the election, said James wanted to be deeply involved in future collective bargaining with the league.

Roberts could hardly wait to announce James' addition.

"We have a new vice president who was elected unanimously. His name is LeBron James," she said, saying it slowly for emphasis. "I can not tell you how delighted I am because it simply confirms that our union is supported by players all across the spectrum. LeBron's addition to our executive committee is evidence of that. This is a great day for our union" (see full story).

NBA: Three-point shootout could trump dunk contest
NEW YORK -- Dominique Wilkins remembers a time not so long ago when the most-anticipated event during NBA All-Star weekend was the dunk contest, how fans looked forward to his duels with Michael Jordan and what creative slam they would come up with next.

Now?

"It's different," he said Friday, drawing laughs from a crowd of reporters that surrounded him in a large hotel ballroom in midtown Manhattan. "We never used props. I jumped over a car when I was a kid."

Indeed, the days when the Human Highlight Film joined Air Jordan in a battle with a ball and a 10-foot hoop are long gone. Many of the game's most notable names never participate in the dunk contest anymore, and this year's field -- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Oladipo, Mason Plumlee and Zach LaVine -- has little hype heading into Saturday night's event at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

Instead, this may be a rare year when the 3-point contest has more appeal.

Golden State Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are headlining the event with Atlanta's Kyle Korver, Houston's James Harden and Cleveland's Kyrie Irving, Portland's Wesley Matthews, the Los Angeles Clippers' J.J. Redick and defending champion Marco Belinelli of San Antonio.

"It definitely should be one of the most fun parts of the weekend," Curry said (see full story).

NBA: Former snub Curry now ASG star
NEW YORK -- Stephen Curry will take on his teammate and team up with his father, then finally take the floor as the leading vote-getter for the All-Star game.

The Golden State Warriors' guard might be the man of the weekend, and even he can't believe how quickly it's happened after he was an All-Star snub just two years ago.

"I remember where I was the night I didn't hear my name called and thought that was a real possibility," he said. "I was in Chicago sitting in the hotel room watching the announcements and obviously (David) Lee was a representative, so happy for him, but in two short years obviously where it is now, it's unreal."

Curry rebounded from not getting chosen in 2013, when he had the highest scoring average among players not picked, by being a first-time selection last year. He finished more than 42,000 votes ahead of LeBron James to be the top vote-getter this season, and he heads to the break as a leading candidate for the MVP award.

The Warriors have the NBA's best record and will be well-represented on Sunday. Steve Kerr will coach the Western Conference, and he tabbed Curry's backcourt mate, Klay Thompson, to start in place of the injured Kobe Bryant (see full story).

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