In a memo issued to NBA teams on Friday, the league counsel reasserted its anti-tampering stance.
Tampering — broadly understood as a player, coach, or management person attempting to entice a player under contract with another team to play for their team — has been generating attention lately after LeBron James commented on the possibility of New Orleans Pelicans all-star Anthony Davis joining him in Los Angeles.
“This [anti-tampering] principle is particularly important in today’s media environment, where any actions or comments relating to potential player movement receive immediate and widespread public attention,” the memo, first obtained by ESPN, said.
“Teams should be entitled to focus their efforts on the competition this season with the players they have under contract, without having to divert attention or resources to conduct or speculation regarding the potential destinations of those players in future seasons once their contracts expire.”
James denied that his comments that it would be “amazing” to play with Davis one day constituted tampering, making the case that there are a number of talented NBA players who would be amazing to play with.
Several small-market general managers didn’t agree, however, reportedly reaching out to Pelicans GM Dell Demps to convey their dismay over statements such as the ones James made.
While the NBA won’t punish players for individual public comments about one player wanting to play with another player, the letter made clear that they could be the basis of a tampering violation if the comments are deemed part of a larger pattern, and urged teams to refrain from any conduct — including public statements — that could be viewed as targeting another team’s player.
“Conduct that doesn’t violate the rule in any single instance may nevertheless constitute a violation if it becomes repeated or part of a broader collection of improper actions.
“If there are other aggravating factors — such as sustained public recruiting or evidence that the player making such a comment is coordinating with his team — then there may be a basis for a tampering violation.”
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