7:25pm: James might throw his support behind the possible candidacy of Jones, a source told Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com.
6:26pm: After days of "careful consideration and research," LeBron James has decided he will not run for president or first vice president of the National Basketball Players Association, a person familiar with James' decision told Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. James was said to be giving it serious consideration due to concerns about the direction of the union.
Ultimately, James decided that he doesn't have enough time at this point in his career to give a top position in the union attention that it requires. James called Heat teammate and NBPA secretary-treasurer James Jones earlier today to inform him of his decision. The two-time NBA champion has been aware all along that his packed schedule could preclude him from pursuing lead job with the union, despite his interest.
"I'm not sure I have the time to do it, but it's something I'm going to think about with my team and go from there," James said last week. "But I think we all can agree there's been a lot of transition in our union in the last couple of years. If it's not me in that seat then I hope it's someone who is comfortable with it and can do the job."
Yesterday, Hoops Rumors readers correctly predicted that James ultimately wouldn't run for NBPA president. The union will have to pick a successor to Derek Fisher in the near future as well as an executive director to take over for the ousted Billy Hunter.