Executive Compensation at the National Basketball Players Association (2022)

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) 5 – a trade union representing the 450 basketball players (30 teams with 15 players) in the NBA. So, this association serves a very small populatlon.

In 2022, the NBPA reported total revenue of $38 million (compared to $34 million in 2021 and $26 million in 2020), most of which came from royalties ($23 million), sponsorship ($6 million), membership dues ($3 million), and agent revenue ($2 million). It is unclear how much each NBA player pays in membership due because the NBPA also has dues for agents which ranges from $2,500 – $7,500 annually, depending on how many players the agent represents.  

Total expenses were $42 million in 2022 with the largest expenses reported to be  compensation ($18 million), office-related expenses ($8 million), fees for services  – primarily for “BRI Advisory” and “professional fees” ($6 million) and travel and conferences ($6 million).

73 employees received $18 million in compensation, an average of $247,000 (compared to 189,000 annually in 2021). However, only 19 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation.

The most highly compensated employee was Michele Roberts, the Executive Director who received $1.5 million in compensation in 2022.   The 8 most highly compensated employees were reported to be:

• $1,502,316:  Michele Roberts, Executive Director
• $  929,664:  Gary Arrick, CFO
• $  644,520:  Clarence Nesbitt, General Counsel
• $  584,122:  Ronald Klempner, Senior Counsel, Collective Bargaining
• $  671,954:  Joseph Rogowski, Director of Sports Medicine
• $  517,256:  Chrysa Chin, EVP, Strategy and Development
• $  523,577:  Matteo Zuretti, Chief International Relations
• $  448,235:  David Foster, Deputy General Counsel

The 8 most highly compensated employees received $6 million in compensation.  Michele Roberts, the Executive Director received  $12 million in compensation from 2016-2022:

• 2022:  1,502,316
• 2021:  $1,539,298
• 2020:  $1,537,821
• 2019:  $2,887,467
• 2018:  $2,218,385
• 2017:  $1,226,635
• 2016:  $1,226,211

The second most highly compensated employee was Gary Arrick, the CFO who received nearly $1 million in 2022 and $5.5 million from 2016-2022:

• 2022:  $929,664
• 2021:  $720,109
• 2020:  $956,155
• 2019:  $900,740
• 2018:  $874,183
• 2017:  $573,919
• 2016:  $428,212

NBPA paid for first class travel. For specific details, see the Form 990, Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information

23 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation with the five most highly compensated reported to be:

• $1,244,856:  Renaissance Associates, of New York, NY for forensic accounting services
• $1,012,806:  Heidrick and Associates, of Chicago, IL for executive search
• $  504,911:  Winston and Strawn, of New York, NY for legal services
• $  498,114:  Ace Surfaces North America, of Altamonte Springs, FL for court surfacing
• $  428,000:  Victory Creative Group, of Vancouver, BC for digital services and design

To read the IRS Form 990 (for the year ending September 30, 2022), click here.