Inside the NBA Issues Apology for Incorrect Report on Bates

Atlanta, Georgia – Inside the NBA, the popular show featuring NBA legends, issued an apology on Monday after mistakenly reporting that former player Billy Ray Bates had passed away.

Ernie Johnson Jr., the show’s host, addressed the error during the broadcast. “We would like to issue a correction and an apology for something that happened last night on Inside the NBA,” Johnson said. “We were talking about Billy Ray Bates, who back in 1980 had one of the best playoff debuts, and in the course of our discussion, we passed on some bad information that Bates had passed away.”

Johnson continued, “While it was inadvertent, it was also inaccurate and insensitive, and inexcusable. In short, we screwed up. We apologize to Billy Ray Bates and his family.” The apology came after a discussion on Sunday where Bates was highlighted as one of three former players who scored more than veteran Ty Jerome in a playoff game.

During the segment, Charles Barkley questioned if Bates was still alive. Johnson and co-host Kenny Smith corrected Barkley but Shaquille O’Neal incorrectly confirmed Bates had died. The exchange has drawn criticism for its lack of sensitivity regarding such significant topics.

Viewers and fans are reminded that even seasoned broadcasters can make mistakes, indicating the need for care when discussing sensitive topics.

As a prominent figure in basketball history, Bates made a memorable impression during his playoff debuts, making the erroneous report particularly impactful. Inside the NBA has previously won multiple Emmy Awards for its coverage and discussions regarding basketball.