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Rachel Nichols, an ESPN sideline reporter, covers Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California on June 24, 2021. Getty Images | Jim Poorten | National Basketball Association Rachel Nichols has returned to ESPN after an unusually quick sabbatical. Nichols, a white NBA reporter, returned to her show, “The Jump,” on Wednesday following an unscheduled one-day hiatus due to backlash over a race-related statement she made about a Black colleague, Maria Taylor, last year. “There’s so much to speak about today,” Nichols stated flatly at the start of Wednesday’s basketball-themed show, which kicked off on time from Phoenix at 4 p.m. ET. Since Sunday, when a stunning New York Times report exposed details of a July 2020 phone call Nichols made with Adam Mendelsohn, the high-powered communications advisor to Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, much of the NBA media world has been buzzing about Nichols and Taylor. Nichols griped to Mendelsohn about Taylor securing a coveted job hosting ESPN’s pregame and postgame coverage of the 2020 NBA Finals during the call, which was filmed by a live video camera in Nichols’ hotel room without her knowledge. Taylor got the job because of her race — and because ESPN, which is owned by Walt Disney Co., wanted to burnish its “diversity” credentials. Nichols assumed that job would be hers as part of her contract, and suggested to Mendelsohn that Taylor got the job because of her race — and because ESPN, which is owned by Walt Disney Co., wanted to burnish its “diversity” credentials. “If you need to give her additional things to do because you’re feeling pressured about your awful long-term record on diversity — which, by the way, I personally know from the female side of it,” Nichols remarked on the call, which was recorded and reported by the New York Times. “Simply look for it elsewhere. You’re not going to get it from me or take it away from me, “she stated Nichols was apparently never reprimanded by ESPN for the statement, which, like the remainder of the exchange, was broadcast live from her camera to the network’s control room in Connecticut. Shortly after the call, a recording of the video began circulating throughout ESPN. ESPN said on Tuesday that Nichols would be benched from covering the NBA Finals, two days after the Times piece. During the NBA playoffs, Nichols was the lead sideline reporter, and it was expected that she would continue in that role during the Finals matchup between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks. Instead, Malika Andrews, a Black woman, was assigned to the Finals sidelines. Taylor, on the other hand, has been selected as a co-host of ESPN’s pregame and halftime show “NBA Countdown,” among other ESPN talent. ESPN announced on Tuesday that Nichols would continue to host her show, “The Jump,” from the game locations on weekdays during the Finals. “We believe that in order to keep the focus on the NBA Finals, this is the greatest move for everyone involved. ‘The Jump’ will continue to be hosted by Rachel “ESPN announced the news in a statement on Tuesday. That may be true going forward, but that was not the case just hours following the announcement on Tuesday. Instead, “The Jump” and Nichols did not make their anticipated appearances. And ESPN didn’t say why she didn’t show up. Instead of “The Jump,” ESPN broadcasted two other ESPN anchors, Jalen Rose and David Jacoby, from their show “Jalen & Jacoby.” On Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver defended Nichols. “Individuals know that people make errors, that careers shouldn’t be destroyed by a single comment, that we should be judging people based on the greater context of their body of work and who they are,” Silver told reporters. Nichols apologized for the uproar surrounding her call with Mendelsohn on Monday’s show. “How grateful I am to be a part of this team,” Nichols added, “and how terribly, deeply sorry I am for disappointing those I have wounded, notably Maria Taylor.” Nichols apparently tried to apologize to Taylor directly but was turned down. In a statement to CNBC on Sunday, Mendelsohn, who is also white, apologized for a remark he made to Nichols on the call last year. He had told her, ” “I’m not sure. I’m completely spent. I’m out of ideas after Me Too and Black Lives Matter.” “I made a stupid, reckless comment entrenched in privilege and I am really sorry,” Mendelsohn wrote in an email to CNBC. Mendelsohn, who co-founded James’ Black voter advocacy group More Than A Vote last year, said, “I shouldn’t have spoken that or even thought it.” “I try to assist these causes because I know that the people who are affected by these issues are never exhausted or run out of options. I need to keep my privilege in check and concentrate on becoming a better ally.”/nRead More

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