Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Publicist: Singing superstar Whitney Houston dies

New NBA rule prohibits in-game Twitter use

Players' communication devices banned starting 45 minutes before tipoff

Slideshow
Charlotte Bobcats v New York Knicks
  Who's hot on Twitter?
Check out which of your favorite athletes have the best pages and most followers!

NBCSports.com

NEW YORK - The NBA is instituting a policy regarding Twitter and other social media sites, banning players from using them during games.

The league sent a memo to teams on Wednesday telling them that cell phones and other communication devices can’t be used from 45 minutes before game time until after players have finished their responsibilities after games. That includes halftime.

The rule applies to “coaches, players and other team basketball operations personnel.” NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed the memo and its contents.

The memo does not specify penalties for violation of the rule, and says teams are free to create their own policies for practices and other team events.

The NBA has more than 1.4 million followers on Twitter, and many players are active on it.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement
  ProBasketballTalk tweets

  1. Loading the latest posts…

Source: Twitter. For more, follow @basketballtalk.

Video: NBA from NBC Sports
Knicks' loving Lin
Landry Fields, Tyson Chandler and Iman Shumpert react to teammate Jeremy Lin and the spark he's bringing to the Knicks.

Slideshow
Washington Wizards v Charlotte Bobcats
  Get your cheer on
Check out some of the dancers from the NBA.

more photos

  Ask the NBA expert: Ira Winderman

Do you have a burning NBA question? Submit it now, and then check back for our reader mailbag.

Special feature
Image: LeBron James
Who will be MVP?
Interactive: Rank each player on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 = best player, 0 = barely worthy of consideration).

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Blake Griffin
  NBA All-Star starters
A look at the starting lineups for the East and West teams.

more photos