In an effort to protect players and referees the NBA has banned midcourt sideline television cameras effective immediately, sources told ESPN.com.
The edict comes a little more than a week after referee Scott Wall rolled his ankle when he tripped over a midcourt cameraman in the Memphis Grizzlies' 102-101 win over the Denver Nuggets in Denver on Jan. 21. LeBron James suffered an ankle injury tripping over a midcourt camera during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season in Atlanta. They are two examples of accidents involving the cameramen in recent years.