A new report by Yahoo! Sports reveals the United States government will be investigating the finances of NBA Players Association Executive Director Bill Hunter. The move comes a week after Oklahoma City Thunder guard Derek Fisher was told he acted against the best interests of the players during the NBA lockout.
Hunter allegedly hired family members and firms that employ relatives of the union chief. He says he will fully cooperate with the investigation.
The union is Hunter's job, a position he's had since 1996. Fisher's job is to make baskets on the court, something he's been doing in the NBA since 1996. The two came into the league together and now they are suffering image problems.
ESPN reported the executive committee voted 8-0 against Fisher when the body felt Fisher went behind player's backs. Yet the sports network states that didn't happen. The network points out the timing of the investigation is interesting.
The NBA playoffs are in full swing and the opening games had plenty of on-court drama. Instead of focusing on a player such as Fisher, the onus is now on Hunter to clear his name. Perhaps sympathy will come back to Fisher's side of the argument that he was trying to get a deal done with the NBA's owners.
Fisher will be an integral part of the Thunder's playoff run through the Western Conference. All of this stuff coming out against him for something that happened last summer seems to be misplaced as the NBA should be focused on its postseason.
Why would all of these issues come up now? It led me to wonder that perhaps there is some bad blood between Fisher and Hunter. First there is a no-confidence vote as Fisher is preparing his team for the closeout of the regular season. Then Hunter becomes the subject of a federal investigation as the playoffs start.
All of this behind-the-scenes jockeying reeks of a major distraction. Fisher certainly doesn't need to be answering questions after every postseason game about how the players association is doing. NBA fans such as myself thought those issues were settled in late December with opening day as a Christmas present.
This time of year should be celebrating the countdown to the NBA Finals in mid-June. Sixteen teams are vying for the golden basketball trophy. Instead, two of the league's most visible figureheads can't seem to stay out of legal troubles.
Hunter and Fisher need to set aside their gripes with one another. I'd rather see Fisher drain a 3-pointer against the Dallas Mavericks as opposed to watching him sap the energy out of an exciting postseason.
Case closed. Just let 'em play.
William Browning has been a fan of the Oklahoma City Thunder ever since the team relocated from Seattle. As the closest NBA team to Branson, Mo., the Thunder serve as the regional team for southwest Missouri.
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