ESPN reporters Tim MacMahon and Marc Stein have been banned from covering the home games of the Dallas Mavericks, according to multiple reports. The Mavericks revoked the two’s season medial credentials on Friday.
According to SB Nation’s Tim Cato, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is unhappy with ESPN not devoting a full-time Mavericks reporter to the team. Cuban has declined to comment to other outlets about reasons for the ban.
MacMahon previously covered the Mavs as a beat writer for ESPN before the company expanded his role to covering teams league-wide. Stein, who is based in Dallas, has been a well-respected national reporter for years and joined ESPN in 2000.
The Fort Worth Star Telegram reported that the ban applies to all ESPN writers trying to get credentials to cover the Mavericks at the American Airlines Center.
ESPN issued a statement to multiple outlets. “We’re committed to thoroughly covering the Mavs and the NBA,” the statement said.
In an NBA statement, spokesman Michael Bass said, “We are in communication with both ESPN and Mark Cuban about this matter.”
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