ESPN Removes Rachel Nichols From NBA Finals Gig Following Maria Taylor Comments

ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols has been removed from her role as a sideline reporter for the NBA Finals. This move comes after the longtime host was caught criticizing colleague the network’s decision to use Maria Taylor during the finals.

ESPN has taken Rachel Nichols off the NBA Finals sideline, the network announced.

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) July 6, 2021

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Rachel Nichols has been under heavy scrutiny after a leaked phone call revealed her comments about ESPN and Maria Taylor.

“If you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity — which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it — like, go for it,” Rachel Nichols was caught saying about Maria Taylor. “Just find it somewhere else. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing away.”

“I just want them to go somewhere else — it’s in my contract, by the way; this job is in my contract in writing,” she added.

Video Leaked Of ESPN's Rachel Nichols Making Disparaging Comments About Fellow Host Maria Taylorhttps://t.co/YYyUNCYfHg

— SideAction (@SideActionHQ) July 4, 2021

ESPN sent out a statement on their decision to remove Rachel Nichols from her NBA Finals role. She will be replaced with Malika Andrews.

“We believe this is the best decision for all concerned in order to keep the focus on the NBA Finals,” ESPN said in a statement via The New York Post.

Rachel Nichols will continue her job hosting the daily talk show “The Jump”.

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