Let A be a normal operator in g ( H ) , H a complex Hilbert space, and let g A = 2 { A X -X A : X E g ( H ) } be the commutator subspace of B ( H ) associated with A . If B in g(H)commutes with A, then B is orthogonal to 9, with respect to the spectral norm; i.e., the null operator is an element of best approximation of B in 9,. This was proved by J. ANDERSON in 1973 and extended by P. J. MAHER with respect to the Schatten p-norm recently.We take a look at their result from a more approximation theoretical point of view in the finite dimensional setting; in particular, we characterize all elements of best approximation of B in W , and prove that the metric projection of H onto . %!A is continuous.