NBA Team Installs Additional Mics in Arena to Monitor Trash Talking

Madison Square Garden in New York City has two new microphones installed at either end of its basketball court, but it's not to pick up better sound quality of the swishes or sneakers on the floor. It's to monitor trash talking.

EPSN.com reported sources telling ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that Knicks owner James Dolan requested the microphones be after an incident between New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony and the Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett. The after-game altercation resulted in Anthony being suspended for one game last week.

Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks yells at Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics after an altercation at Madison Square Garden on January 7. (Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Broussard was told that these microphones are not meant to seem as if they are spying on players but more so to monitor if others were trash talking Anthony unfairly. The mics were in use during Friday's game against the Chicago Bulls and Sunday against New Orleans and it is not clear if recording will continue, ESPN reported.

Although the Knicks would not comment on the mics, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said although he didn't know about the recording equipment before the game, he didn't consider it "that big of a deal."

Watch ESPN's report:

Anthony received his suspension last Wednesday after the incident with Garnett, which occurred after Monday's game.

Anthony, who was angry about Garnett's choice of words during a fourth-quarter altercation, went toward the Celtics' locker room after the game and later waited for Garnett outside Boston's team bus.

Anthony didn't believe he would be suspended because he said he was just looking to talk to Garnett, not fight. But NBA executive vice president of operations Stu Jackson ruled otherwise.

"There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable for a player to confront an opponent after a game," Jackson said in a statement. "Carmelo Anthony attempted to engage with Kevin Garnett multiple times after Monday's game and therefore a suspension was warranted."

Anthony and Garnett received technical fouls with 9:03 remaining in the Celtics' 102-96 victory, arguing with each other from the baseline to midcourt after a physical exchange on Boston's previous possession. After the game, Anthony went the wrong direction toward the Celtics' locker room in hopes of finding Garnett.

On Tuesday, Anthony said he was upset because of what Garnett said, though wouldn't elaborate on what it was.

"There's certain things that you just don't say to men, another man," said Anthony, who was not penalized.

"It's over with for me. Whatever happened last night, happened. The words that was being said between me and Garnett, it happened, can't take that away," Anthony added. "I lost my cool yesterday, I accept that, but there's just certain things that push certain people's buttons."

Watch Garnett talk about the altercation in this clip (Note: he starts talking about the run-in with Anthony at 4:05):

The Associated Press contributed to this report.