NBA Players United

Goodbye & Good Luck, Adonal Foyle

On behalf of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and its more than 400 players, the NBPA’s Executive Committee wishes Adonal Foyle, NBPA First Vice President, all the best as he retires from professional basketball and reflects on Adonal’s character, contributions and commitment to the game and beyond:

“Adonal Foyle’s commitment to the NBPA has been a true testament to his character, on and off the court. As a competitor, philanthropist and family man, Adonal possesses a fiery passion and relentless determination as palpable as it is contagious. His contributions to the NBPA have helped shape the Union into what is today and will be felt long after he hangs up his sneakers. We wish him ongoing success as he transitions into the next phase of his life.”
--William Hunter, Executive Director

"As a driving force on the NBPA's Executive Committee, Adonal's passion and dedication to our players has been incredible. It has been an honor and a pleasure serving with him. I know I speak for all of us at the Player's Association and across the league by wishing Adonal and his family nothing but continued success."
--Derek Fisher, President

“Adonal is a very intelligent individual, on and off the court. He’s constantly working to become better, and to make his team, his community and his NBA brothers better. With a passion for helping others develop, Adonal gave many of us younger guys on the Executive Committee a blueprint to follow. He was always professional, stood for the right things and did things the right way. He is truly the example of how to be a professional athlete and person. Adonal is a guy that everyone can learn from, and it’s bittersweet that he’s moving on. I know he will excel in whatever he does.”
--James Jones, Secretary & Treasurer

“I had a unique perspective because Adonal was not only a fellow Committee Member, but also a teammate. He’s probably one of the most unique players I’ve ever been around – he had an island upbringing, is highly educated, as well as politically, socially and NBA aware. That is my guy…I will miss him dearly.”
--Keyon Dooling, Vice President

“Adonal will truly be missed. He is a perfect model of what a true NBA veteran should represent. He was very committed to leaving the NBA and the NBPA in a better place than how he found it. I wish him all the best.”
--Maurice Evans, Vice President

“Adonal has truly been an example of the consummate pro. Although he was never my teammate, his philanthropic efforts have been hard to ignore over the years. I know that Adonal Foyle will have just as much success off the basketball court as he has over his great career.”
--Roger Mason, Vice President

“After serving on the NBPA Executive Committee with Adonal, it is clear that he is a role model and the type of man that current and future NBA players should look up to. He created a successful NBA career for himself, all the while planning for his future and giving back to the community. Best wishes, Adonal.”
--Chris Paul, Vice President

“Adonal is a great guy who has been a part of the NBPA Executiv e Committee for many years. He’s been very active with the Union and was a fun guy to have around. He will always be a part of our Union, and I wish him all the best in his next career.”
--Theo Ratliff, Vice President

“Adonal Foyle sets the bar extremely high. I have always admired him since we played against each other in college. The work he does, both on and off the floor, puts him in a class all by himself. It was a pleasure to serve with him on the Executive Board, and I wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors.”
--Etan Thomas, Vice President

Words From Adonal:
"What I will miss the most about my role as NBPA First Vice President is interacting with the many different players on a day-to-day basis. Many of these players were on different teams, but when it came to the Union, it was an opportunity to be on the same team; fight for a common cause; and be a part of the ideals that will benefit the future of the league.

The NBPA provides players an amazing opportunity to learn how the business of The NBA is conducted. Sitting across the table with various owners and players from all walks of life, you are in a perfect laboratory of knowledge to see the world outside the lines of the basketball court. The NBA is so much more than a game – it’s the totality of how we see the sport and our efforts to understand the business of the league.

I was able to experience a side of the league that only a few have had the opportunity to participate in. Through my Union experience, I learned about the historical aspects of the Union and the politics of life, all of which I will cherish, just as much as I cherished my time on the court. I appreciated my interactions with all the players – agreeing, listening and sometimes agreeing to disagree as well. I will always be grateful for the experience and hope I imparted as much to the Union as the union has passed on to me."

Click here to read Adonal’s moving poem announcing his NBA retirement.
 
ABOUT ADONAL
After 13 NBA seasons, Foyle, a native of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, retired from professional basketball on August 17, 2010. Spending 10 years with the Golden State Warriors and almost three seasons with the Orlando Magic, the 6’10” center was selected by the Warriors in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft. He played collegiately for the Colgate University Raiders, where he was the school’s all-time leading rebounder. Foyle graduated from Colgate magna cum laude with a history degree. Apart from his basketball career, in 2001 he founded Democracy Matters, a non-profit organization that works to provide a healthy political environment for college students. Foyle also created the Kerosene Lamp Foundation to help further the education of youth in his native country. In 2009, he became only the eighth NBA player to be inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. Dedicating six years to the NBPA’s Executive Committee, Adonal most recently served as the NBPA’s First Vice President.