Particle.news
Download on the App Store
8 ARTICLES
·
3d ago

ESPN Mutes Dirk Nowitzki’s Congratulatory Message After Hornets Draft Hannes Steinbach

The feed-specific audio failure drew heavy social-media criticism because Nowitzki’s words recalled his Würzburg ties to the new Hornets rookie.

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Dirk Nowitzki, a 14-time NBA All-Star, on a video call, Image 2 shows A split screen showing a young man wearing a basketball cap laughing with an older man, and Dirk Nowitzki speaking from home, with graphics for the 2026 NBA Draft below
Jun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver greets the fourteenth pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Washington forward Hannes Steinbach after he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Image

Overview

  • ESPN aired a prerecorded video of Dirk Nowitzki for Hannes Steinbach after Charlotte selected him with the No. 14 pick on Tuesday, but the audio failed to play on the ESPN feed.
  • The New York Post obtained and published the recovered audio transcript in which Nowitzki congratulated Steinbach, referenced their shared Würzburg roots, and joked about Steinbach’s family ties.
  • Viewers and fans on X posted clips and screenshots that highlighted a feed discrepancy with ABC and mocked ESPN’s production choices.
  • Steinbach is a 20-year-old German big who played for the Würzburg Baskets and starred at the University of Washington as a top rebounder, and he is expected to bolster Charlotte’s interior rebounding and rim defense.
  • The incident underscores how separate network feeds can create live-production gaps and may lead to closer scrutiny of broadcast procedures for national sports telecasts.