The NBA reportedly is “expected to communicate to teams” a revised cell phone and social media policy that would prohibit players and coaches from using their phones from the tipoff to conclusion of games, according to Ian Begley of SNY.
The previous rules regarding phone usage stated that players and coaches couldn’t use their phones for particular situations—such as posting on social media or sharing video footage with an official or media member—from 45 minutes before tipoff until after media obligations were fulfilled following the game.
Those rules will remain in effect, but the reported adjustment will more strictly enforce a no-phone policy for the length of games, as the NBA hopes its rule changes will serve to keep coaches and players “focused on team matters” and also will promote “the integrity of the game as it pertains to gambling,” per Begley.
Teams will appoint “one point of communication for players and coaches” during the period when cell phones aren’t permitted at all, likely in the event of an outside emergency or other urgent communications a player would need to access during that time.
Just how strictly the NBA will be able to actually enforce such rules when players go into the locker room at halftime is unclear, however, outside of players blatantly violating the rules by posting on social media during that time or teams self-reporting any phone usage.
It also remains to be seen how players will respond to the league’s new, and stricter, rules on phone usage.
