Chapter 225 Tang Tian, Union Chairman
The day after the league meeting ended, the official announcement of Tatum's return to power was made.

Along with the official announcement was the original text of Tatum's inaugural speech.

There were two points in it that were most noteworthy.

One was that the league would maintain the same refereeing standards as last season, and the other was the Tang Tian clause.

This sparked a great deal of discussion among fans on social media.

"Rejoice! Adam Silver is finally gone! This is definitely a historic day for the NBA!"

"Couldn't agree more, Silver has almost ruined the NBA in recent years! I have no interest in watching games with him in charge!"

"Seriously, every time I see him, I think of the Cavaliers being down 1-3 two years ago and then forcibly tying it 3-3. It's so disgusting!"

"Good and evil will be repaid in the end; if it's not repaid, it's just not time yet! When the time comes, it will be repaid immediately!"

"I've decided, since Silver is stepping down, I'll reward the leader!"

"+1, a poor man will give a helmsman!"

"+2, I don't have money, so I'll just give 1 yuan (✺w✺)"

……

"+10086, I'll just cast a monthly vote!"

……

"And looking at Tatum's inaugural speech, his last resignation has made him much more mature!"

"That's how the difference between people is reflected. Silver comes back after half a year and is still Silver, but Tatum comes back after a year and is already the real Stern!"

"And this Tang Tian clause is very interesting. It looks like it's for Tang's benefit, but it's actually打击联盟抱团 (dǎjí liánméng bàotuán, cracking down on league clustering)!"

"Yes, as a senior懂球帝 (dǒng qiúdì, know-it-all fan), I can clearly predict that the Pelicans, Cavaliers, and Warriors will all find it difficult to maintain their current lineups next season!"

"It's time for my King to dispel the doubts and prove that he is the real number one in the league!"

"Buddy, you missed a few words, prove that he is the real number one in the league... the number two below."

"Hehe, my King had five 40+ triple-doubles in the playoffs last season, the NBA's only 50+ triple-double, Tang only knows how to cluster and play兄弟篮球 (xiōngdì lánqiú, brotherhood basketball), the difference is clear at a glance!"

"That's right, that's right, my King will definitely explode next season, truly a一人一城 (yīrén yī chéng, one person, one city)!"

"Are you sure? I heard that LeBron is about to decide on 3.0."

"Impossible! My King will end his career in Cleveland, shut up, haters!"

……

The day after the league meeting, the Players Association also held a formal meeting in Los Angeles.

Because the current union president, Paul's term is expiring, the Players Association needs to discuss the next candidate.

There are two plans now, one is to let Paul continue to be re-elected.

This is the wish of many veteran stars, including the current union's chief vice president, James.

The other plan is to introduce a new candidate for union president.

This is the idea of many mid- and lower-level players, because the current labor agreement, the super max salary, are all for the benefit of the elite, that is, the superstars.

In particular, the Tang Tian clause introduced by Tatum has further expanded this aspect.

More super max salaries mean that superstars occupy more salary space on the team, and there is even less space left for mid-level players.

Tang Tian, as the league's number one player, was also invited to the meeting.

Both plans have their supporters, and neither side can convince the other, and for a while, they are arguing endlessly.

"Tang, what's your opinion?"

In the midst of the dispute, Iguodala, who supported the election of a new chairman, turned to Tang Tian and asked.

Iguodala spoke, and others turned their attention to Tang Tian one after another.

As the league's number one player, Tang Tian now has a lot of say.

Tang Tian was invited to the meeting just to be a bystander, he didn't expect Iguodala to ask him.

But being asked, he couldn't just stand by anymore.

"I think the new clause is not a bad thing, not only for me and LeBron, but for everyone."

Tang Tian's first sentence drew surprised glances from everyone else.

This was clearly completely different from what they had discussed before.

James couldn't help but cough twice.

Just talk, why do you have to bring me into it!

And I've been playing for 15 years, what does this clause have to do with me!

Tang Tian didn't care about James' reaction, but continued to express his views.

"I don't think the statement that super stars squeeze the interests of mid-level players is the root cause of the new labor agreement is valid.

Because when the new labor agreement came into effect, many mid-level players got contracts that they could never have gotten before.

What CP3 did was to help us increase the salary cap, he did a great job, and too many players have benefited in the last two years."

Tang Tian's next passage made many people present, including James and Wade, nod in agreement.

"But that was only in 2016. Last summer, including what can be foreseen this summer, the living space for mid-level players has been infinitely compressed. The max salaries signed in the summer of 2016 cannot be digested, and most mid-level players can only choose the mid-level exception, or a minimum salary."

Anthony Tolliver, the current vice president of the union, also raised his question.

"This problem does exist, but I think the introduction of the Tang Tian clause is actually helpful in improving this.

After super giants have the right to sign higher salaries, it also means that super teams can hardly exist anymore.

Then teams that could sign three super giants in the past can only sign two, and even if they have the ability to sign three to the limit, it also means that others can only get a minimum salary.

Such a lineup is obviously very畸形 (jīxíng, deformed) and difficult to succeed, but if you only sign two, the remaining salary has to be given to mid-level players."

Tang Tian is worthy of being someone who was the league president in his previous life. These theories are shocking to others, but for him, they are just experience.

After he said this, almost everyone in the conference room nodded.

The same thing, different angles, and even different degrees of understanding, are completely different.

"I have a suggestion."

Not long after Tang Tian finished speaking, Iguodala spoke again.

"I don't think anyone is more suitable to be the chairman of this league union than Tang."

His next words caused a commotion in the conference room.

But soon, the commotion quieted down, and then players began to echo one after another.

Tang Tian is the league's number one player and can best represent the players.

Moreover, he has a good relationship with Tatum, which will make communication between labor and management more accessible.

Of course, most importantly, Tang Tian's remarks just now moved many people.

Many superstars present, as well as many mid-level players, accepted his opinion.

"I agree."

"I agree."

……

Players began to echo one after another.

"I agree."

Wade also made his statement.

As one of the banana boat brothers, his statement is very important.

"Since so many people agree, let's just vote directly."

Iguodala then said.

Unlike the league meeting, the player vote is simpler, basically a show of hands.

After Iguodala finished speaking, many people in the conference room raised their hands.

After James and Paul exchanged a few words, the two of them also raised their hands one after another.

Unanimously passed!

Tang Tian became the next union chairman after Paul!

Tang Tian couldn't help but laugh a little at this result.

He was just there to be a bystander!

Those remarks were only made because he had to answer when asked.

But since this is the choice of all the players, then he doesn't need to be pretentious.

He'll just be the chairman then!