NBRPA 30th Anniversary

In 1992, the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) was founded by NBA Legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson to serve and support former professional basketball players after their playing days. In the 30 years since its inception, the NBRPA has continually found new ways to enhance the lives of NBA, ABA, WNBA and Globetrotter Legends, their families, and their communities.

Reflecting on how the organization has grown over the last 30 years, NBRPA Founder Dave Bing spoke about the importance of the milestone at the Legends Awards Show during the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland. “I can remember back when Oscar [Robertson], DeBusschere, Cowens, Archie [Clark] and myself came up with the idea to make this a reality, because so many of our players in that era weren’t prepared for retirement,” said Bing. “What they’re doing for retired players today is unbelievable and no doubt they’re very appreciative of the benefits they get through this organization.”

Providing exceptional programs and benefits to its members has always been at the forefront of the NBRPA’s mission, as evidenced by the last five years. 2017 marked the NBRPA’s 25th anniversary, which was commemorated during the 18th annual NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. This celebration included a special presentation at the annual Legends Brunch honoring its founders for their leadership in establishing the organization as well as their commitment to leveraging their influence and helping other players in the years to come.

2017 also marked an important year for the NBRPA as funding health insurance for retired NBA players was approved with unanimous support from the NBPA’s player representatives, a change that former players had long fought to achieve and now acknowledge as a core benefit for Legends of the basketball. “It’s great to see that today’s players recognize how important it is to give back to these retired players in a major way,” said Caron Butler, a member of the NBRPA Board of Directors. “I think it’s special. The retired players are happy because you sacrifice your body and give everything to this game, so to be appreciated on the back end speaks volumes. We’re so grateful to play for a league like the NBA that understands the importance of taking care of us and our families. Once you’re part of this fraternity, it’s a lifetime thing.”

No matter the situation a former player may be in after their playing days are over, the NBRPA has a program to help them get to where they want to be. However, the NBRPA isn’t just about what it can do for its members, but also what its members can do for their communities and the game of basketball. At the heart of the organization’s work is the importance of social responsibility and community outreach programs known as Legends Care initiatives, with programming spanning from Full Court Press clinics to Legends Girl Chats and beyond. Through Legends Care programs and the NBRPA’s network of 12 local US chapters, former players are more empowered than ever to use their influence and platform to give back to their communities in meaningful ways, advocate for powerful social change, and inspire the next generation of young hoopers.

The last two years caused much of the world to slow down, if not come to a complete halt, and the NBRPA was not immune to the effects of a global pandemic. But where others saw discouragement, the NBRPA saw an opportunity to adapt and prosper in the face of adversity. Legends Media & Entertainment was created and launched to provide a digital platform for former players to share their stories, including three new podcasts: Legends Live, Hoop du Jour with Peter Vecsey, and Legends Lounge with Trill Withers. The NBRPA also developed and launched a members-only mobile app, the Legends Locker Room, to keep former players intimately connected despite the hinderance of social distancing. 

And when in-person events and activities did slowly begin to resume as “normal,” the NBRPA developed safe and effective strategies to allow members to reunite as they had pre-pandemic. The 2021 WNBA All-Star Game, hosted in Las Vegas, provided a clear look at the NBRPA’s commitment to supporting the WNBA and its former players since the WNBA’s official inclusion in the organization in 2013. The 2021 WNBA All-Star Game also served as a glamorous celebration of the league’s 25th anniversary and shined a spotlight on WNBA Legends, who enjoyed the game with first-class hospitality in two private NBRPA suites.