Billy Hunter used union funds to support Charles Smith's attempt to overthrow the National Basketball Retired Players Association, according to sources. This was one of several maneuvers that led Derek Fisher to call for a business review of the union's activity.
The players' union is currently being investigated by the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, sources have confirmed.
Smith was ousted as NBRPA executive director in the fall of 2010 after pursuing deals that violated its existing group licensing agreements without executive committee approval.
Several months later, as Smith fought to win back his position, the NBPA's late lead counsel, Gary Hall, told a retired players' association representative that the NBPA was in full support of Smith, would pay his legal fees and play "the race card," if necessary, sources said.