From the NBA Players Association:
The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) is pleased to announce the addition of Ricky Rubio, Grant Williams and Jalen Rose to its Board of Directors.
Ricky, Grant, and Galen join a dedicated team, including CJ McCollum (Chair), Andre Iguodala (Director), Krisa Chen (Director), Serge Ibaka (Director), and Tamika L. Tremaglio (Executive Director of NBPA). The Board of Directors provides strategic oversight for the NBPA Foundation to expand the charitable footprint of both current and former NBA players globally.
“Ricky, Grant and Galen each bring unique experiences and perspectives, on and off the field, which will undoubtedly enrich our Board of Directors,” said NBPA Executive Director Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. “Their contributions to their communities demonstrate their commitment to positive change, in line with our core mission. We are delighted that they have joined us in our quest to effect meaningful change around the world.”
Ricky Rubio, who currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has had a distinguished career in both European and American basketball. Born in El Masnou, Catalonia, Spain, Ricky made his EuroLeague debut at the age of 16 and was a first round NBA draft pick in 2009. In 2018, Ricky started the Ricky Rubio Foundation, which supports individuals and families affected by cancer across the globe. across the United States and Spain. His foundation’s work also includes support for disadvantaged youth and research for the understanding and treatment of lung cancer.
Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams is joining the board of directors to bring fresh insights from his current experience in the NBA. Williams is currently the Senior Vice Chair on the Executive Committee of the NBPA. In 2022, Grant started the Grant Williams Family Foundation, which focuses on financial literacy, counseling, and access to education in Charlotte, North Carolina. He will serve on the NBPA Foundation Board of Directors as Vice President.
A studio analyst who appears on many ABC/ESPN shows, Jalen Rose brings a rich background in sports commentary and analysis. Rose, who played in the NBA for 13 years and was a member of the University of Michigan’s legendary “Fab Five,” brings his extensive knowledge of the gaming and entertainment industry to his new role on the NBPA Foundation Board. A philanthropist who truly gives from the heart, Rose started the foundation in 2000 to give back to the communities in which he lived and played basketball. His largest outreach initiative to date was the creation of the Galen Rose Leadership Academy. Founded in 2011, Academy is an open-enrollment, tuition-free chartered public high school in his hometown of Detroit.
“We are thrilled to be part of the NBPA Foundation and its mission to lead positive change through the power of partnership,” Rubio, Williams and Rose said in a joint statement. “We are committed to leveraging our collective impact and the platform of professional basketball to make a lasting impact on our communities.”