FLEISHER, LARRY

FLEISHER, LARRY (1930–1989), head of the NBA players union from 1962 to 1988, member of NBA Hall of Fame. Born in the Bronx, New York, Fleisher graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1946, New York University in 1950, and Harvard Law School in 1953, before serving in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. His work as head of the NBA Players Association paved the way for pensions, minimum salaries, severance pay, and disability payments, among other benefits, and increased average yearly player's salary from $9,400 in 1967 to $600,000, without a strike. Fleisher was involved in the eventual merger of the ABA with the NBA, and was instrumental in developing the free agent system in 1976, known as the "Oscar Robertson Settlement" and allowing players to move more freely from team to team. In addition, he helped establish an Anti-Drug Agreement in 1983, the first such policy in pro sports, which provided for counseling and severe penalties for players involved in the use of hard drugs. Fleisher also negotiated the agreement that established the NBA salary cap system. (Elli Wohlgelernter (2nd ed.)