NBACentel

{{Infobox organization

| name = @TheNBACentel

| image = File:NBA Centel logo.jpg

| alt = The white lines of a basketball eclipsing a red and black backdrop. In the center is the text "Centel", an intentional misspelling of "Central".

| caption = NBACentel's X avatar

| founding_location = Toronto, Canada

| formation = {{Start date and age|July 2022}}

| affiliations = none

| website = [https://x.com/TheNBACentel X account]

}}

NBACentel (sometimes spelled as NBA Centel), often referred to simply as Centel, is the handle of a satirical sports journalism page on Twitter. A parody of National Basketball Association (NBA) news aggregator page NBACentral, the Centel page often posts humorous or outlandish faux headlines regarding NBA teams, players, coaches, and personalities. Because of the account's similar appearance to NBACentral, many readers are fooled by the account's satirical headlines, mistaking them for genuine sports reporting. Professional NBA players and sports media figures have been tricked by the account, which has since been dubbed "getting Centel'd".

Despite explicitly labeling itself as a parody account, NBACentel has been the subject of critique online due to its contribution towards monetized disinformation on social media. The account garnered further attention after it was abruptly shadow-banned from X on 26 February 2025, before being reinstated the following day. {{As of|2025|June|post=,}} Centel has over 650,000 followers on the platform.

History

NBACentel is an X account directly parodying "NBACentral", a basketball news aggregator on the platform. The account was opened in July 2022 under a different handle, and initially posted non-parody NBA content before pivoting to its NBACentel identity in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=A.J. |date=22 October 2024 |title=Meet the Man Behind NBA Centel, Who Keeps Fooling Fans on Twitter |url=https://frontofficesports.com/nba-centel-parody-news/ |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=Front Office Sports |archive-date=10 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110045440/https://frontofficesports.com/nba-centel-parody-news/ |url-status=live }} The owner of the account, an individual from Toronto who remains anonymous, credits his inspiration primarily to "Ballsack Sports", another "troll" account that has had fake quotes picked up and spread by legitimate news outlets.

Media writers have suggested that X's incentive structure that allows for monetization on posts by X Premium subscribers has led to the increase in accounts like Centel.{{Cite web |last=Lerner |first=Drew |date=23 October 2024 |title=Satire aggregators like NBA Centel are growing as X incentivizes parody and engagement |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/twitter/satire-aggregators-grow-x-parody-nba-centel-ballsack-sports.html |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=Awful Announcing |archive-date=24 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224161920/https://awfulannouncing.com/twitter/satire-aggregators-grow-x-parody-nba-centel-ballsack-sports.html |url-status=live }}

In July 2023, shortly after Centel began posting satirical content, the page successfully fooled Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green into responding to a fake quote attributed to retired player Kevin Garnett. This prompted a response from Garnett, who pointed out Centel was a fake account, and called for X CEO Elon Musk to "fix it". Other players and media members have since been fooled by or otherwise drawn attention to Centel's tweets, such as Kevin Durant, Stephen A. Smith and Colin Cowherd.{{Cite web |last=Jungfer |first=Nick |date=19 July 2023 |title=Draymond Green Falls For Fake Kevin Garnett Quote, Calls Him Out |url=https://basketballforever.com/2023/07/19/draymond-green-falls-for-fake-kevin-garnett-quote-calls-him-out |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=Basketball Forever |archive-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619065613/https://basketballforever.com/2023/07/19/draymond-green-falls-for-fake-kevin-garnett-quote-calls-him-out |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Shipley |first=Reice |date=26 February 2025 |title=Satirical social media aggregation account 'NBA Centel' removes all posts on X |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/twitter/nba-centel-removes-all-posts.html |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=Awful Announcing |archive-date=27 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227150320/https://awfulannouncing.com/twitter/nba-centel-removes-all-posts.html |url-status=live }}

= Notable faux stories =

One of Centel's more notable posts was a story falsely credited to NBA freelance reporter Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson, supposedly quoting NBA player LeBron James having stated: "It's crazy, I was bumping to '{{bracket|Mo Money Mo Problems}}' earlier today in the car and I had a weird feeling today was the day the {{wikt-lang|en|feds|i=-}} will catch Diddy". Robinson stated that his contacts in the entertainment industry congratulated him on the supposed story.

In October 2024, Durant referenced Centel in multiple tweets; in one, he replied to a profane X post directed towards him by user @JasonAWilkinson, who responded to a Centel post which included a fake quote attributed to Durant. Durant then replied to Wilkinson, informing him "you got centel'd".{{Cite tweet |number=1845841673949188333 |user=KDTrey5 |title=You got centel'd..." |first=Kevin |last=Durant |author-link=Kevin Durant |date=14 October 2024 |access-date=28 February 2025 |ref=35 |url=https://x.com/KDTrey5/status/1845841673949188333}}{{Cite magazine |last=Klein |first=Ricardo |date=27 February 2025 |title=Basketball World Reacts to NBA Centel Social Media Ban, Reemergence |url=https://www.si.com/onsi/ball-around/news/basketball-world-reacts-to-nba-centel-social-media-ban-reemergence-01jn4eay9djm |access-date=28 February 2025 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |department=Ball Around on SI |ref=29}} This exchange led to a tweet by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary humorously acknowledging the word centel'd as a verb.{{Cite web |last=Lago |first=Joe |date=14 October 2024 |title=Kevin Durant helps NBA parody account make Merriam-Webster Dictionary |url=https://www.thebiglead.com/kevin-durant-helps-nba-parody-account-make-merriam-webster-dictionary |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=The Big Lead}} Around this time, the account had approximately 154,000 followers. Durant also stated that he browses the comments on the account's posts "just to truly see how many dummies come online thinking that they have high IQ".{{Cite web |last=Alston |first=Trey |date=14 October 2024 |title=Kevin Durant Rips 'Dummies' Who Follow NBA Parody Account, Think 'They Have High IQ' About Basketball |url=https://www.complex.com/sports/a/treyalston/kevin-durant-nba-parody-doesnt-like |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=Complex |archive-date=28 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228001546/https://www.complex.com/sports/a/treyalston/kevin-durant-nba-parody-doesnt-like |url-status=live }}

On 11 November, Centel posted a fabricated quote from Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, humorously writing that Rivers "have {{sic}} informed the Bucks he'll start taking coaching 'seriously' now," after the team lost eight of its first 10 games to start the 2024–25 season.{{Cite tweet |number=1856064745075323015 |user=TheNBACentel |title=Doc Rivers have informed the Bucks he'll start taking coaching 'seriously' now, per @ChrisBHayne |date=11 November 2024 |access-date=27 February 2025 |ref=8 |url=https://x.com/TheNBACentel/status/1856064745075323015?lang=en}} Following the post, the Bucks would go on to win nine of their next 10 games and win the 2024 NBA Cup tournament.{{Cite news |last=Wells |first=Jed |date=24 November 2024 |title=Did viral fake X post fix Milwaukee Bucks season? |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/in/nba/milwaukee-bucks/news/viral-fake-x-post-fix-milwaukee-bucks-season-doc-rivers/984e70b02f2fe1c7062f50b4 |access-date=28 February 2025 |work=The Sporting News |ref=24 |archive-date=28 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228004237/https://www.sportingnews.com/in/nba/milwaukee-bucks/news/viral-fake-x-post-fix-milwaukee-bucks-season-doc-rivers/984e70b02f2fe1c7062f50b4 |url-status=live }}

Centel "broke" a fictitious story on 21 February 2025, reporting that the Mavericks had banned fans wearing {{langr|sl|Luka Dončić}}'s jersey from entering the team's home arena, American Airlines Center.{{Cite news |last=Bubel |first=Jennifer |date=27 February 2025 |title=NBA Centel returns to X after temporary ban |url=https://en.as.com/nba/nba-centel-returns-to-x-after-temporary-ban-n/ |access-date=1 March 2025 |work=AS USA |language=en-us}}{{Cite tweet |number=1893084553150857623 |user=TheNBACentel |title=BREAKING: The Mavericks organization has announced they will ban fans from wearing Luka Doncic jerseys as a way to move forward from him. (Via @ChrisBHayne) |date=21 February 2025 |access-date=27 February 2025 |ref=21 |url=https://x.com/TheNBACentel/status/1893084553150857623}} This came after multiple actual instances of Mavericks fans being escorted out of home games for chanting or holding signs reading "Fire Nico", a negative response to Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison Luka Dončić trade to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier in the month.{{Cite news |last=Falcon |first=Julia |date=11 February 2025 |title=Dallas Mavericks fans with "fire Nico" signs escorted out of American Airlines Center |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/dallas-mavericks-fans-say-fire-nico-harrison/ |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=CBS News Texas |ref=20}}{{Cite news |last=McMahon |first=Tim |date=11 February 2025 |title=Fans break NBA code of conduct, ejected from Mavericks' loss |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43790513/fans-break-nba-code-conduct-ejected-mavericks-loss |access-date=27 February 2025 |publisher=ESPN |ref=22 |archive-date=25 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250225144824/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43790513/fans-break-nba-code-conduct-ejected-mavericks-loss |url-status=live }} Centel's faux headline fooled Cowherd, who mentioned the fake story during his show on Fox Sports 1 (FS1).{{Cite tweet |number=1894131819185942936 |user=TheNBACentel |title='I saw a story where they won't let Luka jerseys in the building in Dallas.' Colin Cowherd got CENTEL'D. 😭😭😭 |date=24 February 2025 |access-date=26 February 2025 |ref=2 |url=https://x.com/TheNBACentel/status/1894131819185942936}}{{Cite news |last=Contes |first=Brandon |date=24 February 2025 |title=Colin Cowherd duped by fake Luka Dončić rumor |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nba/colin-cowherd-duped-fake-luka-doncic-jersey-rumor.html |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=Awful Announcing |ref=16 |archive-date=24 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250224214044/https://awfulannouncing.com/nba/colin-cowherd-duped-fake-luka-doncic-jersey-rumor.html |url-status=live }}

=X shadow ban=

On the afternoon of 26 February 2025, posts from the @TheNBACentel profile page on X stopped loading, and posts from the account ceased.{{Cite news |last=Morse |first=Ben |date=27 February 2025 |title=As this popular parody NBA social media account disappears, various franchises and basketball figures mourn the loss |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/27/sport/nba-centel-parody-social-media-teams-spt-intl/index.html |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=CNN |ref=4 |archive-date=27 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227132429/https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/27/sport/nba-centel-parody-social-media-teams-spt-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Kadlick |first=Mike |date=26 February 2025 |title=NBA World Pays Tribute to Fallen Troll Account 'TheNBACentel' on Social Media |url=https://www.si.com/nba/nba-world-pays-tribute-thenbacentel-nba-centel-social-media-twitter |magazine=Sports Illustrated |ref=5 |accessdate=27 February 2025 |archive-date=27 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227071335/https://www.si.com/nba/nba-world-pays-tribute-thenbacentel-nba-centel-social-media-twitter |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Mader |first=Daniel |title=What happened to NBA Centel? Popular NBA parody account receives 'temporary restrictions' on X |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/what-happened-nba-centel-parody-account-restrictions-x/bb098da6030b371a6a4adc95 |access-date=26 February 2025 |website=The Sporting News |ref=7}} It was initially unclear if the shadow ban on the account indicated a permanent suspension.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Phil |date=26 February 2025 |title=Popular parody X account NBA Centel possibly shut down |url=https://www.kron4.com/news/popular-parody-x-account-nba-centel-possibly-shut-down/ |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=KRON-TV |archive-date=28 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228010440/https://www.kron4.com/news/popular-parody-x-account-nba-centel-possibly-shut-down/ |url-status=live }} As the account appeared shut down, Centel received tribute posts on X from Stephen A. Smith and the official accounts of various NBA teams, posting hashtags such as #RIPCentel and #FreeCentel, and dedicating wins from that night's games in the account's honor.

Though the Centel account was transparent in its parody, it did not officially tag itself as a parody account on X, which was speculated by many users to be the reason for the account being shut down.{{Cite web |last=Valdez |first=Joshua |date=26 February 2025 |title=Fans mourn the end of NBACentel on social media |url=https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-fans-mourn-nbacentel-social-media |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=ClutchPoints |archive-date=27 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227042648/https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-fans-mourn-nbacentel-social-media |url-status=live }} The owner of the "Ballsack Sports" account tweeted that "Centel has told me he just wants to be back and having fun with you guys. We're hoping this a temporary restriction on his account, and not a ban". Centel continued to post on Instagram, and its X account was restored the following morning, on 27 February.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Kari |date=27 February 2025 |title=NBA Centel parody account returns to X after being mourned by NBA fans and teams |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba-centel-parody-account-returns-to-x-after-being-mourned-by-nba-fans-and-teams-204339199.html |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=Yahoo! Sports |archive-date=27 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227221934/https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba-centel-parody-account-returns-to-x-after-being-mourned-by-nba-fans-and-teams-204339199.html |url-status=live }} The account had accumulated around 357,000 followers at the time of the temporary ban.