NBA Cracks Down on Team/Player Social Media Use
The NBA is arguably one of, if not, the most hip major professional sports league in the world. They were one of the first to embrace social media and the benefits that come from it, and the social accounts of NBA teams have some of the most creative content on social media. Accounts such as the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings come to mind with their creative use of memes, gifs, photos, and videos.
However, the creative minds behind that content will have to work with some boundaries moving forward.
ESPN.com’s, Tim McMahon, reports that the NBA sent a memo out to all 30 teams regarding social media interaction from team’s official social accounts.
From McMahon’s report:
The NBA sent a memo to all 30 franchises this week regarding rules prohibiting the “mocking and/or ridiculing” of opponents or game officials by teams on social media.
The memo from NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum stated that some recent social media postings on official team accounts had “crossed the line between appropriate and inappropriate” and cited concern that “such conduct can result in ‘Twitter wars’ between players that can cause further reputational damage and subject players to discipline by the League.”
The memo cited three specific examples of material that would be inappropriate for posts on official team accounts: Disparage, belittle or embarrass an individual opponent or game official; Mimic or impersonate an opponent or game official in a negative manner; or Criticize officiating or the NBA officiating program.
Those three specific examples may have included the recent back-and-forth between the Portland Trailblazers Twitter account, Memphis Grizzlies’ Chandler Parsons, and Trailblazers’ CJ McCollum.
To be fair, the NBA 3-point line is really, really far away from the basket. pic.twitter.com/dHusI9cHcW
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 28, 2017
Parsons, who has been known for his witty humor, responded.
@trailblazers good luck in the lottery show this year✊?
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) January 28, 2017
McCollum caught wind of the tweet and seemed to not appreciate the dig from Parsons.
We hit the lottery by not signing you https://t.co/eSiBaNT061
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) January 28, 2017
Parson, again, showing off his witty humor.
@CJMcCollum stop it. Technically, I hit the lottery.
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) January 28, 2017
Another instance that might have been included in the NBA’s memo dates back to April 2015, when the Houston Rockets eliminated the Dallas Mavericks from the playoffs. The Rockets fired their social media manager after they tweeted out a horse emoji followed by a gun emoji symbolizing the Rockets putting a horse down.
The Houston Rockets have now apologized. pic.twitter.com/G8o0XTEZO3
— Eli Langer (@EliLanger) April 29, 2015
However, the NBA did state in the memo that light-hearted banter would be allowed.
“Teams may use social media for fun and lighthearted banter that does not reflect poorly on any team, player, other team or League personnel, or the League as a whole. However, such activity cannot become inappropriate or offensive. As such, we encourage teams to properly and extensively train their social media staff members to ensure that they know what kind of postings are appropriate and what kind are not.”
The Kings like to poke fun at their opponents with use of creative memes such as their redesign of the Cleveland Cavaliers logo after a January victory over the defending champions. Would this be too much?
This one’s for the Land… pic.twitter.com/GiJ2wSEoOZ
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) January 26, 2017
The NBA is trying to prevent situations they see inappropriate or offensive that reflect the league poorly, but do you think they are doing too much with their new policy?
Source: ESPN
