NBA Centel: A First-Ballot Hall of Famer in Misinformation

Overview

NBA Centel is a popular misinformation and satire account on X (formerly Twitter).
It is renowned for its ability to mimic credible NBA news sources, particularly NBA Central.
The account's similarity in name and profile picture often leads users to mistake its content for legitimate news.

Launched in 2022 by an anonymous creator from Toronto.
Known for creating believable yet humorous headlines about NBA trades, player signings, and outrageous quotes.
Quickly went viral due to its clever and convincing posts.

NBA journalist Colin Cowherd was fooled by a Centel tweet about banning Luka Doncic jerseys, showcasing Centel's influence.
Even Twitter's AI has been deceived by Centel's posts.

In February 2025, NBA Centel was shadow-banned from X.
The ban caused a significant reaction in the NBA Twitter community, with fans mourning the loss.
Official accounts of NBA teams and other entities like Buffalo Wild Wings and NBA 2K acknowledged the impact of Centel.
Famous sports journalist Stephen A. Smith, who had been fooled before, also paid tribute.
CNN covered Centel's ban, highlighting its cultural impact. The account was reinstated the next day.

NBA Centel has significantly impacted the sports media landscape by encouraging fans to verify their sources.
Despite causing some confusion, it has entertained and engaged basketball fans extensively.
Many consider it worthy of a spot in a hypothetical Twitter Hall of Fame.