Clippers’ Chris Paul elected president of NBA players’ union

In a surprising development Wednesday, NBA players elected Clippers All-Star guard Chris Paul as the new union president to replace Derek Fisher, whose term is expiring.

Guard Roger Mason Jr. had been the only announced candidate, and it had been widely expected that he would run unopposed. Mason has served as Fisher’s vice president for four years.

Paul becomes the first superstar to hold the NBA players’ association president’s job since Patrick Ewing’s term ended in 2001. The union was scheduled to hold a conference call Wednesday evening.

Lakers guard Steve Blake and Charlotte Bobcats forward Anthony Tolliver were added to the union’s executive committee.

The union still must name a new executive director to replace Billy Hunter, who was fired in February amid allegations of nepotism and misuse of resources. Hunter filed a wrongful-termination lawsuit accusing Fisher of conspiring with league officials during the 2011 lockout.

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