Adelaide 36ers coach Trevor Gleeson attracted attention this week after removing his microphone during halftime of a National Basketball League (NBL) game, raising questions about the league’s live microphone policy. Gleeson, returning to the NBL after five seasons away, took the microphone off as his team trailed the Sydney Kings’ Phoenix by 29 points at the break in Melbourne, and it remained off for the rest of the contest, which ended in a heavy defeat for the Sixers.
The NBL confirmed that Gleeson simply forgot to turn his microphone back on following his halftime address, a lapse the league accepted as an unintentional mistake. While no formal warnings have been issued to any coach this season over microphone usage, some coaches reportedly use tactics like removing or covering their microphones during games to prevent sensitive conversations from being transmitted to viewers.
Live microphones are a distinctive feature of the NBL’s broadcast strategy, intended to provide fans with rare behind-the-scenes access to coaches and gameplay. However, not all coaches fully embrace the approach. Some express concerns about privacy, noting that the microphones can pick up conversations during time-outs, which they believe would be better suited for selective editing rather than continuous live broadcast. Coaches have pointed to the NBA’s “Sounds of the Game” segments as a model, where audio is curated and packaged post-game rather than aired in real time. Implementing such a system would require additional technology and resources, which could be costly.
There have also been fears among some coaching staff that their microphones might be used in the league’s review processes. Insiders clarified that coaches’ audio is not monitored in the NBL’s review center; however, referees’ microphones can sometimes pick up coach comments during review sessions. The league maintains that coach microphones are only audible through the broadcast and warns that any unauthorized public release of such audio would represent a significant integrity violation.
The NBL has consistently upheld its policy on live microphones, emphasizing the added fan engagement the feature provides. Coaches are fully briefed on microphone use before each season and are aware that live audio may be transmitted during select time-outs. The league also restricts audio broadcasts in the final two minutes of games to preserve competitive fairness. Despite some resistance, the live mic policy remains a firmly established part of the NBL’s game presentation.