Just 20% of eligible NBA players voted in the last election, according to reports/something said during players’ big meeting in the bubble.
National Basketball Players Association president and Thunder guard Chris Paul on ABC:
I’m so proud of our guys, because I’m proud to announce that we have over 90 percent of our league registered to vote. Fifteen teams are 100 percent registered. And the job that guys have been doing just to be a little bit more educated on the situation and getting people out, recruiting poll workers and things like that – the bubble has been an unbelievable blessing. Our players are continuing to do the work. And we’re grateful, and we’re going to keep working.
For perspective, about 79% of eligible voters were estimated to be registered as of 2014.
Obviously, there’s a difference between being registered to vote and actually voting. It’s unclear how many players were previously registered to vote. The 20% figure was about actual voting.
But LeBron James has led a focus on voting, and the bubble provided an opportunity for organizing. It sounds like players took advantage in time for the upcoming election.