Rick Mahorn is annoyed with the excessive use of social media in the NBA: "I don't like the way they use it to promote bullsh*t"
In the modern world, when the internet is available to almost everyone at their fingertips and on-demand, there are many news stories circulating on social media that might not be 100 percent accurate or even spread misinformation.
Whether it's about a situation of discord within a team that was leaked, as happened with the Philadelphia 76ers after a terrible start to the season, or news circulating online that a player requested a trade, social media will be the first to ride the trending wave of all kinds of stories.
Rick Mahorn also spoke about the issue of spreading significant and insignificant news on different platforms. The "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons center believes that not everything is publish-worthy, and he strongly dislikes how today's NBA stars use the various opportunities the internet provides.
"What I'm annoyed with is social media. Nothing's wrong with it. Nothing is wrong with it if used properly," Ricky said in his latest appearance on the Cedric Maxwell Podcast.
"Remember we had to read the newspaper the next morning, and we couldn't get information about nobody a week later. Now, it's so instantaneous that if LeBron breaks his fingernail or Steph Curry, a piece of his hair come out, all of a sudden it's big news. I like this new way of getting information, but I don't like it the way they use it to promote bullsh*t," the retired big man added.
Fans love these kinds of news
As with any topic, a clear divide can be observed between those who played in the earlier era, when basketball was more physical and on-court brawls were a daily occurrence, and modern stars, who are often surrounded by the narrative that they are soft.
Mahorn, as one of the truest representations of what a player in the 80s and 90s had to do on the court, recalled how it used to be with a dose of sentimentality, as expected.
Back then, problems within the team or with individual players remained private, and very little made its way to the media. Today, as "McNasty" himself said, players put all kinds of things on their feeds.
However, it must be admitted that most die-hard fans love to hear about and watch their favorite players' day-to-day activities, even if it's something trivial like LeBron James breaking a nail.
Jordan in the era of social media?
One of the most recognizable athletes of all time, who did most of the damage during the 90s, was Michael Jordan. The Chicago Bulls' legend became a global icon, and wherever you were in the world, you could recognize his shaved head and bright red jersey with the number 23 on the back.
But "His Airness" achieved his astronomical success without social media, and we can imagine the reach he would have now in this era where every step is tracked and carefully analyzed by the public's ever-watching eye.
Would such coverage have bothered MJ, considering he often indulged in activities that could harm his reputation, such as gambling, or would his popularity have gone through the roof? We will never know. But one thing is certain: as much as such platforms allow the entire Association to continue building its global brand, for Mahorn, the key is in moderation.
