When the NBA shared its return plan and campus setup for the basketball "bubble" in Orlando, Fla., one minor element became a source of fascination for NBA Twitter: the anonymous tip hotline.
The league has a system in place that allows NBA players to report potential rule violations, and apparently it is already working. On Tuesday, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that "multiple tips" have already been placed into the hotline ahead of the 2019-20 season restart.
Multiple tips have been placed into the NBA’s anonymous hotline to report protocol violations on campus, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 14, 2020
Some players have received warnings from violations, sources said, as league ensures social distancing and mask protocols on campus. https://t.co/LSRX6cXWfP
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 14, 2020
MORE: Kings player banished to quarantine in Orlando for food order
Obviously if players fail to follow health and safety protocols, the NBA's return is unlikely to last long. It makes sense that the league would do everything possible to avoid another suspension of play.
However, some players view the tip hotline as more of a "snitch hotline." Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who won't be joining his teammates in Orlando after testing positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), went so far as to encourage players inside the "bubble" to hang up their hotel phones.
"To all my fellow NBA players, don't call the snitch hotline," Dinwiddie told Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks.
Asked Spencer Dinwiddie if he had a message for guys that are IN the bubble.
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) July 14, 2020
I’m just gonna leave this here. I was not expecting him to say this. Lol pic.twitter.com/1xfbKVh3RW
But the league office shouldn't be concerned. NBA Twitter is confident All-Star guard Chris Paul will report all violations as quickly as possible.
Shortly after Charania's report hit social media, Twitter users identified the Thunder guard as the primary caller.
hm ... I wonder who it could be ... https://t.co/CwSp0cGUnd pic.twitter.com/nRCwycLwsW
— #RingerNBA (@ringernba) July 14, 2020
“Yep, Buena Vista drive. Walked across the road and everything.” https://t.co/4iJo2Caqtg pic.twitter.com/KVWZjYCbQB
— Josh Eberley🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) July 14, 2020
Chris Paul needs a hobby https://t.co/6fTaKhOXQI
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) July 14, 2020
Chris Paul has like three different phones for this https://t.co/LXxlM7LndE
— Duncan Smith (@DuncanSmithNBA) July 14, 2020
A mysterious tipster named "IsChra AulPa" left 99% of them. https://t.co/6WY45F8G4K
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) July 14, 2020
Chris Paul right now https://t.co/EZtznP2pN5 pic.twitter.com/JEfO68ZDhs
— Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) July 14, 2020
CP3 watching players take a extra juice box during lunchtime: pic.twitter.com/gFxIqnskyY
— Rosa Parks’ Burner Account (@Rosasburner) July 14, 2020
Play crazy and don’t wear your mask around Chris Paul if y’all want to..... pic.twitter.com/gqXMlwDI4j
— Cameron Jacobs (@jacobs2124) July 14, 2020
Chris Paul in the bubble ratting out his friends: pic.twitter.com/nFDKqfTRKn
— Frank Ojeda (@UCLADodgerFrank) July 14, 2020
Chris Paul looking out his window like pic.twitter.com/TCJf1qPgr2
— World B Expensive (@WorldBExpensive) July 14, 2020
Will Paul be responsible for every single tip? No, probably not. However, this is a man who figured out a way to manufacture points at the end of game via an obscure rule about properly wearing a jersey. His search for a competitive advantage never ends.
So, yeah, NBA players should be on their best behavior — because you never know when Paul will be watching.
