Kyrie elected to replace Pau Gasol as NBPA vice president

The National Basketball Players Association announced Monday that Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving has been elected to the executive committee as a vice president.

Irving's three-year term will begin immediately. He was chosen to replace free-agent center Pau Gasol, whose term had expired.

"This was the right time for me to run for a leadership position in the NBPA," Irving said in a statement. "I have been an observer and a participant in union affairs for a while, but for the most part, I was off on the sidelines, supporting our executive committee as they made important decisions. At this point in my career, I wanted to join forces with those guys and take a bigger role outside of the basketball court and within our union.

"I want to help move the union forward with innovative ideas, not only on social issues but also with business ventures into a new space. I am honored to be elected by my peers and I cannot wait to work with everybody to make an impact."

Irving had been serving as a player representative for the Nets. He's now joining Bismack Biyombo, Malcolm Brogdon, Jaylen Brown, CJ McCollum, and Garrett Temple as NBPA vice presidents.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul has served as NBPA president since he was first elected in 2013. Miami Heat forward Andre Iguodala and Sacramento Kings big man Anthony Tolliver are first vice president and secretary-treasurer, respectively.

Gasol is currently without a team after undergoing surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot over the summer. However, the 39-year-old is still hoping to return to the NBA and wants to play for Spain at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.