Adam Silver: NBA has 'zero tolerance' for incidents of fan misconduct

The NBA’s Fan Code of Conduct, which is linked in the NBA’s tweeted release, can be found here.

It’s clear that the NBA takes incidents like the three that occurred this week very seriously. Silver doubled down in further remarks to stress as much and to reinforce how anyone participating in unacceptable behavior will be caught and punished accordingly.

“It’s critically important because, while of course we’re thrilled that fans are able to be back in our arenas, to get out of their homes to share this experience with others, we’ve gotta demonstrate that there is zero tolerance for that sort of behavior. I recognize it’s a minuscule percentage of fans, but they also can destroy the atmosphere for everyone who’s there,” Silver said. 

“Then, of course, it’s our job to protect the players and the coaches and the officials. We want to make sure everyone knows it is zero tolerance. If you engage in that type of behavior, you will be caught particularly because even if it’s not recognized at first, there are so many cameras in all of our arenas now that no one is going to get away with that kind of behavior.”

The hope is that the condemnation of such acts and the punishments enforced inspire any potential bad actors to think twice before crossing the line and engaging in such boorish and intolerable behavior. Having Silver lay things out so clearly should be taken as a positive development by the league’s players, many of whom understandably have expressed outrage over what occurred this week.