Adam Silver spoke with the media on Saturday during NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, and one thing he said did not go over well with many reporters.
The NBA cracked down on allowing reporters in the locker room in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Credentialed media members used to be able to talk with players in-person before and after games in the locker room, as well as during some practices/shootarounds. The access allowed reporters to build relationships with players, make observations, and then pass those stories and information along to interested fans.
However, since the pandemic, the NBA has not allowed media members into the locker room. Commissioner Silver says that regulation is likely to continue.
On media access to locker rooms, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says "a little bit of distance may make more sense for the foreseeable future" due to covid-19, and adds that locker room access is "an anachronism" for privacy reasons. "It's not going to be so easy" to restore access
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 20, 2022
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's full comments from All-Star Weekend in Cleveland on the possible end to locker room media access due to covid-19 & privacy concerns pic.twitter.com/k2SjKsZ03B
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 20, 2022
Reporters have been allowed in locker rooms/dressing rooms for multiple professional sports for years. That access has provided opportunities to reporters to speak with various players in intimate settings where they can possibly obtain more/exclusive information. Restricting media access to postgame appearances to just a few selected players, where all media members hear the same answers, will reduce the uniqueness in stories.
Players probably love and want this because the media is just a nuisance to many of them, and you could argue the presence of reporters in dressing rooms is a privacy violation.
The media is a conduit between fans and players and helps build, increase and maintain interest in players, teams and the leagues. Their access plays a big part in helping to build and continue interest.
One veteran NBA reporter called the measure “insulting.”
It’s insulting to say NBA reporters are standing around in a locker room watching players dress. Before the pandemic, many relationships between NBA players & media were built during that 30-45 minute period. Interviews done. If the players don’t want to talk, they don’t have to.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) February 20, 2022
Another pointed out the hypocrisy from Silver in pointing to health concerns as the reason for continuing this restriction, while simultaneously ending testing for players.
Adam Silver clearly hasn’t been in many locker rooms postgame…Also, Silver stopped testing and stopped caring about the virus. But now claiming concerns about variants and close contacts in locker rooms. Give me a break. https://t.co/ht0LkIS91h
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) February 20, 2022
Many players probably feel they make so much money, and already have direct access to fans through their social media channels, therefore the media in many cases is annoying.
Silver basically caters to the players as a commissioner, which makes it unlikely that this new policy will change any time soon.
Photo: Feb 15, 2020; Chicago, Illinois, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a press conference during NBA All Star Saturday Night at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
