ESPN and Rachel Nichols are no more. The reporter and host will no longer make appearances on the network and The Jump, the daily basketball show she hosted for five years, has been canceled. (TVNewser)
The decision comes a month after The New York Times reported on comments Nichols made about Maria Taylor, a former ESPN colleague, about how Taylor had been chosen to host 2020 NBA finals coverage over her because executives were “feeling pressure” regarding diversity. (NYT)
“We mutually agreed that this approach regarding our NBA coverage was best for all concerned,” David Roberts, senior vp of production at ESPN, said in a statement. “Rachel is an excellent reporter, host and journalist, and we thank her for her many contributions to our NBA content.” (THR)