Steve Mills has emerged as a strong candidate to become executive director of the National Basketball Player Association.

Mills was in the running to replace Billy Hunter last summer before he was rehired by the New York Knicks as president. Mills' plan was to hire a general manager with a background in analytics.

With Phil Jackson joining the Knicks, Mills' role with the franchise in the long-term remains unclear.

The Princeton-educated Mills could have an inside track on the union job. He is well-respected among players as well as league and team executives.

“It would be great for the union’s future if Steve is the guy,” said one player representative, who did not want to be identified.

Kevin Johnson is leading a search committee to select a new executive director.

Hunter was ousted as executive director of the NBAPA on Feb. 16, 2013 by a vote of 24-0 by the union’s board of player representatives.