A well-known NBA parody account, NBA Centel, appeared to be shut down on Wednesday, prompting reactions from fans, teams, and celebrities.
NBA Centel gained popularity for its satirical posts about basketball, often fooling athletes and media figures. The account, a parody of the legitimate NBA Central, amassed more than 357,000 followers before its apparent removal.
As of Wednesday, clicking on NBA Centel’s handle (@TheNBACentel) displayed a blank page with the message:
“@TheNBACentel hasn’t posted”
They finally got Centel
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) February 26, 2025
A tragic day in NBA Twitter history pic.twitter.com/dvNRg6YpeO
ESPN’s First Take host Stephen A. Smith, the Utah Jazz, and NBA 2K’s official X account all tweeted:
“RIP Centel”
The Houston Rockets’ official account added,
“Forever in our hearts #RIPCentel”
Is the viral parody X account NBA Centel gone?
Reports suggest that NBA Centel refused to label itself as a “parody account” on X, which may have led to its suspension. However, X has not officially confirmed the reason.
The controversy escalated after NBA Centel posted a fake report claiming the Dallas Mavericks had banned the sale of Luka Doncic jerseys following his midseason trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. The rumor gained traction, even being repeated by Colin Cowherd on The Herd.
“I saw a story where they won’t let Luka jerseys in the building in Dallas."
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) February 24, 2025
No one is safe from Centel 😭pic.twitter.com/ITdzSQ3fwu
While the exact reason for its removal remains unclear, NBA Centel’s absence marks the end of an era for one of X’s most notorious satirical sports accounts.
Fans took to X to react on NBA Centel
NBA Centel, a parody account that often mimics NBA Central, has gained a reputation for spreading misinformation, leading to the term “centel’d” in sports media.
Amid reports of its alleged ban, fans took to X to share their reactions:
“Elon musk really banned NBA Centel,” a fan posted.
Elon musk really banned NBA Centel pic.twitter.com/cVO6wy0etk
— Vonito Newtown (@GlassTapBar) February 27, 2025
“I love how most (if not all) NBA teams that won today have recognized Centel’s influence and all agreed to pay tribute to a fake news account in their final score tweets,” another tweeted.
I love how most (if not all) NBA teams that won today have recognized Centel's influence and all agreed to pay tribute to a fake news account in their final score tweets 😭 https://t.co/v0BYbaqa25
— Anthony Damcott (@AnthonyDamcott) February 27, 2025
“NBA centel top 5 pages of all time,” fan wrote on X.
NBA centel top 5 pages of all time
— Rashid (@Ralibano) February 27, 2025
“Boycotting the NBA until Centel is free!” another tweeted.
Boycotting the NBA until Centel is free!
— Chet (@Chet_Manly_00) February 27, 2025
“They took NBA Centel from us today. Elon must be stopped. Free speech is imperative to the democracy,” another fan reacted on X.
They took NBA Centel from us today. Elon must be stopped. Free speech is imperative to the democracy. https://t.co/jjNiMjwiss
— Joelìto Blaine (@JoellyBlaine) February 27, 2025
“I didn’t realize NBA Centel went down because I blocked them a while ago. I’m always ahead of the curve I fear,” a fan wrote.
I didn’t realize NBA Centel went down because I blocked them a while ago.
— Sarah Padillo (@_SarahPadillo) February 27, 2025
I’m always ahead of the curve I fear.
“There was times where I hated NBA Centel. Now I realize how much of a necessary evil he was. Chaotic good if you will,” another fan tweeted.
There was times where I hated NBA Centel. Now I realize how much of a necessary evil he was. Chaotic good if you will
— PJ 🐘 (@PeejIsHere) February 27, 2025
Some fans criticized the parody account, while others supported its ban.
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I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
