‘Nothing is sacred’: NBA players are in the public eye like never before

Thanks largely to camera phones and social media, among many other factors, NBA players like Kyle Lowry, left, have found themselves in the public eye more constantly than ever before. Photograph: Cole Burston/Getty Images

It started with a punch. When Draymond Green laid his hands on former teammate Jordan Poole during a Golden State Warriors practice ahead of the 2022-23 season, it didn’t just lead to the downfall of the Warriors dynasty. The notorious also event kicked off an era of unprecedented publicity in the NBA.

After all, TMZ took advantage of the social media frenzy that followed reports of the punch by obtaining and leaking the video. Later, rapper Cam’ron and journalist Pablo Torre took turns reporting what Poole said to inspire the punch. It all served to satisfy a rabid, increasingly online fanbase hungry for ever more information.