RACHEL NICHOLS

ESPN’s Malika Andrews discusses Kyrie Irving’s anti-vaccine protest, building trust with players, and following the advice of “Ted Lasso.”

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Nichols came under fire after a report by The New York Times detailed critical comments she made about her Black colleague, Maria Taylor.

ESPN-Nichols Basketball FILE - In this July 20, 2021, file photo, ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols walks on the court after Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee. ESPN is cancelling Nichols’ “The Jump” show and pulling her off NBA programming. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) (Paul Sancya)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — ESPN is canceling Rachel Nichols’ show, “The Jump,” and pulling her off NBA programming, almost two months after it was revealed she was caught on audio tape suggesting a colleague's promotion was diversity-related. Roberts also will be responsible for revamping and finding a host for the network's “NBA Countdown” show, given Maria Taylor's departure to NBC. ESPN replaced Nichols with Malika Andrews as its sideline reporter for the NBA Finals following the report.

Nichols has been removed from NBA coverage and The Jump was canceled a few months after remarks she made became public suggesting that Maria Taylor was promoted because she is Black.

The decision follows backlash over leaked comments she made about her former colleague Maria Taylor.

The decision follows backlash over leaked comments she made about her former colleague Maria Taylor.

ESPN-Nichols Basketball FILE - In this July 20, 2021, file photo, ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols walks on the court after Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee. ESPN is cancelling Nichols’ “The Jump” show and pulling her off NBA programming. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) (Paul Sancya)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — ESPN is cancelling Rachel Nichols’ show, “The Jump,” and pulling her off NBA programming. Nichols came under fire, though, after a New York Times report on July 4 detailed critical comments she made about Taylor. ESPN replaced Nichols with Malika Andrews as its sideline reporter for the NBA Finals following the report.

ESPN is canceling Rachel Nichols’ show “The Jump” and pulling her off NBA programming.

Maria Taylor has joined NBC less than a week after her contract with ESPN expired.

Maria Taylor is leaving ESPN after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension.

Taylor's departure follows a controversy surrounding leaked comments from reporter Rachel Nichols, who made disparaging comments about her.

The sports network announced Wednesday that they were unable to reach agreement on a contract extension for Taylor. Her final appearance for the network was Tuesday night's NBA Finals telecast.

Taylor's departure follows a controversy surrounding leaked comments from reporter Rachel Nichols, who made disparaging comments about her.

A recording surfaced of Nichols making disparaging comments about a colleague and the sports network's racial diversity efforts.

A recording surfaced of Nichols making disparaging comments about a colleague and the sports network's racial diversity efforts.

A recording surfaced of Nichols making disparaging comments about a colleague and the sports network's racial diversity efforts.

NBA Finals ESPN Nichols Basketball FILE - In this Friday, July 31, 2020, file photo, ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols stands on the court before an NBA basketball game between the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. In a decision announced Tuesday, July 6, 2021, ESPN has replaced Nichols as its sideline reporter for the NBA Finals following a report detailing critical comments she made about Black colleague Maria Taylor. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP, File) (Mike Ehrmann)PHOENIX — (AP) — ESPN has replaced Rachel Nichols as its sideline reporter for the NBA Finals following a report detailing critical comments she made about Black colleague Maria Taylor. Nichols, who is white, has been the sideline reporter for its top national games this season and for last year's NBA Finals. Taylor will again host the NBA Finals pregame and halftime shows, though the New York Post reported that her contract ends later this month and she had rejected an extension.

Nichols faces backlash over leaked audio of her suggesting that Maria Taylor received the assignment for diversity reasons.

PHOENIX — (AP) — ESPN has replaced Rachel Nichols as its sideline reporter for the NBA Finals following a report detailing critical comments she made about Black colleague Maria Taylor. The network announced Tuesday that Malika Andrews would handle that role for the series between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks. Nichols has been the sideline reporter for its top national games this season and for last year's NBA Finals. But the switch was made after the New York Times reported Sunday on her comments last year, when she learned Taylor would lead the network's studio show instead of her during the league's restart at Walt Disney World. Taylor will again host the NBA Finals pregame and halftime shows, though the New York Post reported that her contract ends later this month and she had rejected an extension.

ESPN has replaced Rachel Nichols as its sideline reporter for the NBA Finals following a report detailing critical comments she made about Black colleague Maria Taylor.

ESPN's move before the NBA Finals follows comments by reporter Rachel Nichols to LeBron James advisor Adam Mendelsohn about Maria Taylor, her Black colleague.

Rachel Nichols overheard saying company made decision based on ‘pressure’ regarding ‘diversity’

A New York Times report released Sunday morning alleges that there is heavy internal conflict throughout ESPN due to comments made nearly a year ago by broadcaster Rachel Nichols about her colleague and fellow broadcaster Maria Taylor, and that Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN’s president, is working overtime to fix the issue. Per the article, a phone call from July 2020 was leaked between Nichols and Adam Mendelsohn, who is LeBron James’ longtime advisor, in which Nichols said that Taylor was selected to host last year’s NBA Finals coverage instead of her, for “diversity” reasons.

Adam Mendelsohn, advisor to Lakers star LeBron James, told ESPN NBA reporter Rachel Nichols he was exhausted in connection with Black Lives Matter, Me Too.

There was whole squad of sports stars on hand Monday for the NBA Experience at the Disney Springs shopping and entertainment center near Orlando. The attraction isnt in a theme park at Walt Disney World, but at the dining and entertainment complex. On the ground level, an exhibit spotlighting NBA and WNBA players, the Combine experience and the NBA Store await. Upstairs there are more activities, including a dunking and slingshot experience and a basketball court where a game clock counts down your shots. The NBA Experience is located at 1486 Buena Vista Drive in Lake Buena Vista.