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ABC News is gearing up to reboot its Good Morning America offshoot GMA3 once again.

ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic told staff Monday that DeMarco Morgan, the co-host of the show, “has decided to begin a new journey and will be departing ABC News,” according to a memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

“His devotion to journalism and sharing with others is evident in everything he touches,” Karamehmedovic added. “We thank him for his kindness and many contributions, wish him well, and look forward to celebrating his next chapter soon.”

Morgan had been the co-host of GMA3 alongside Eva Pilgrim.

Earlier on Monday, Pilgrim was announced as the new anchor of Inside Edition, the syndicated CBS newsmagazine. And last year Dr. Jen Ashton, who had been a co-host of the show since 2020, exited ABC to launch a health and wellness brand.

With Morgan and Pilgrim out, ABC will need to reboot the program once more,...

ESPN is digging into its past in a bid to spotlight its future.

The Disney-backed sports giant will, starting Thursday evening during ABC’s broadcast of the first game in the NBA Finals, give fans both a taste of its earliest days as well as a hint of what’s to come. An ESPN promo will feature footage of some of the first minutes shown on the cable network when it debuted in 1979. By the vignette’s end, however, ESPN will be highlighting its ability to interact with sports fans via mobile devices, and it will tout its ubiquity with game die-hards using a new catchphrase: “Sports Forever.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75due__2YLU

All this comes as ESPN readies the kickoff of a new $29.99 per month streaming service that aims to give subscribers access to everything it offers on a single platform. The new service — dubbed simply ESPN,...

ESPN’s Malika Andrews is joining “WNBA Countdown” as a co-host on the studio show’s new Los Angeles-based program.

Andrews’ appointment comes as ABC and ESPN are creating two broadcast desks for the pregame show: the current version of “WNBA Countdown,” hosted out of Bristol, and another setup in L.A.

On ABC, the Bristol-based “WNBA Countdown” will feature the returning lineup of SportsCenter anchor and women’s basketball host Elle Duncan, analysts Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s “WNBA Countdown” will be hosted out of Los Angeles by Andrews and analysts Monica McNutt, Carolyn Peck, Owgumike and Carter.

Introduced during the 2022 WNBA postseason, “WNBA Countdown” now serves as a pregame show throughout the regular season, playoffs and finals.

Currently serving as the host of ESPN’s weekday NBA studio show, “NBA Today,” and all editions of “NBA Countdown,” Andrews will make her “WNBA Countdown” debut Sunday...

If he can’t beat them, ESPN chief Jimmy Pitaro is still willing to do business with them.

A creative deal that will bring what is perhaps America’s favorite sports studio show to Disney after years of it airing on Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT spotlights a growing willingness at ESPN to take a “curation” approach to game-day concepts and content. Some of the biggest deals at ESPN in recent years aren’t ones that start new formats or series, but rather the type that make ESPN a perch for sports personalities who have already proven popular somewhere else.

The new pact, unveiled formally Monday after leaking over the weekend, makes “Inside the NBA” an ESPN property as far as fans are concerned. To be sure, Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports will continue to produce the show from Atlanta over the term of the pact, which commences with the 2025-26 NBA season.

Malika Andrews and Dave McMenamin have finally tied the knot. The ESPN supercouple were able to combine both of their backgrounds as the LA-based reporters wed at Cavallo Point Lodge. The national park resort is located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, California, right outside where Andrews was raised in Oakland. But even McMenamin’s Pennsylvania origin was intertwined in the location as Andrews told Vogue, “Some of the steel in the Golden Gate Bridge was sourced from Chester, Pa. — just outside of Philadelphia where Dave is from.” The celebration paid homage to the sport that brought them together. With a hoops-inspired seating chart divided in a March Madness-like bracket and a functional basketball hoop in the middle, the newlywed couple brought their vision to life. Andrews wore a stunning Grace Kelly-like dress with a modern lace twist. Her husband wore a blue suit with...

Through perseverance, hard work, and determination, Malika Andrews has climbed the ranks in the sports media industry. Currently, she is a distinguished sports journalist and reporter, hosting NBA Today and all editions of NBA Countdown on ESPN. Her influence extends across multiple ESPN platforms, including ESPN.com, ESPN Radio, and SportsCenter. Andrews is beloved by NBA fans worldwide for her deep knowledge of basketball, her infectious laugh and smile, her vibrant personality, and her distinctive style. Beyond her fanbase, she serves as an inspiring role model for many aspiring young girls, particularly those of color, who share her passion for sports media. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values and mission statement here – Media has the responsibility to better our world – The...

Malika Andrews is being commended by viewers for the way she handled her live broadcast of NBA Today as a 4.4 magnitude struck the Los Angeles-set studio on Monday, August 12. Andrews was talking with former player and basketball analyst Rebecca Lobo when the earthquake struck suddenly, shaking the set and camera operator to the point that the visual framing was off-kilter for a few seconds, but quickly fixed. In the midst of Andrews’ chat with Lobo, she quickly segued into addressing the earthquake, “… As we have a bit of an earthquake here in Los Angeles,” she said, transitioning the conversation. ESPN Los Angeles studio shaking from an earthquake during NBA Today and Malika Andrews handled it like a pro. pic.twitter.com/KPGndlCx01 — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 12, 2024 “So we’re just going to make sure that our studio lights, everything stays safe, everything shaking…,” Andrews continued before asking if her crew were okay to continue.

As millions of Angelenos were rattled by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake Monday afternoon, ESPN pundit Malika Andrews put on a master class, live on-air, on staying calm and collected.

The “NBA Today” host was interviewing basketball analyst Rebecca Lobo via video call when the quake shook the walls of the studio and jolted the cameras, sending the broadcast into a brief state of disarray.

“We have a bit of an earthquake here in Los Angeles,” Andrews said, pausing the interview. “So we’re just going to make sure that our studio lights [and] everything stays safe. Everything is shaking.”

Andrews then checked on the camera crew and made sure her in-ear monitor was still working before seamlessly resuming the show.

“Thank you so much for bearing with us through that. Our studio was shaking just a little bit,” Andrews said.

Following the broadcast, Andrews wrote on X/Twitter, “Definitely a scary moment here in our LA studios.

United States Geological Survey confirms a 4.4 earthquake at 12:20 p.m. centered 4 km Sse of South Pasadena. The Usgs initially reported the temblor at 4.6 and later downgraded it. There was at least one aftershock, pegged at 2.1.

Shaking was felt as far south as San Diego and north to Santa Barbara and east to Riverside County and there were no injuries reported.

Local stations, including KABC7 and KNBC4, broke into programming to cover the event.

“It was most likely on the lower Elysian Park Fault,” a spokesperson for CalTech said at a hastily-assembled news conference carried on both outlets.

Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, who is often featured on local media after such events, said the quake occurred on a thrust fault likely associated with the Whittier Narrows complex, a system of faults.

“There have been others in the past,” Jones said of temblors in the complex. “In 1989, we had a pair...

Angela “Blac Chyna” White, Tina Knowles, Cedric the Entertainer, Malika Andrews, Cynthia Bailey, Mookie Betts, Cookie Johnson, Latanya Richardson, Bobby Brown and many more joined Ladylike Foundation founder Leah Pump in honoring legendary Head Coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks Dawn Staley, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Nichol T. Whiteman, and Beautyblender founder Rea Ann Silva at the organization’s 15th Annual Women of Excellence Awards Luncheon and fashion show, on June 1st at Los Angeles’ Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Entertainment Tonight’s Nischelle Turner served as the event’s emcee with Multi-Grammy Award-winning Recording Artist Erica Campbell performing for the over 700 attendees.

The annual event is also known for featuring a runway fashion show with designs for adult women and young ladies. This year, the runway featured fashions from Sergio Hudson, Isabella Coutoure, Sweet Pea and Macy’s, worn by runway models including Kinley Betts, daughter of Mookie Betts; Hendricks and Bohdi Brown,...

On Monday June 4, actor and singer Ben Platt is set to appear on The Jennifer Hudson Show to talk about his third album, Honeymind, which was released on May 31, 2024. The album, executive produced by David Cobb, was inspired by a hike with his fiancé, fellow Broadway actor Noah Galvin. Platt has described […]

The Jennifer Hudson Show: Ben Platt, Malika Andrews, Phyllis Wright...

The 2023-24 NBA schedule will begin Tuesday, October 24, as LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers visit the defending champion Denver Nuggets.

It’s an interesting year for the NBA, as it marks the first time an in-season tournament will spice up the early schedule. Modeled after similar tournaments in European soccer, the NBA Cup begins on November 3, when the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo host the New York Knicks and Jalen Brunson.

The NBA Cup offers players on the winning team $500,000 each.

Another opening-week highlight will be the highly-anticipated regular season debut of San Antonio Spurs rookie and No. 1 draft choice Victor Wembanyama, who will play the Dallas Mavericks on October 25.

Christmas Day will have five games on tap including the Milwaukee Bucks at the New York Knicks, followed by Golden State at Denver, and the Boston Celtics at the Lakers. The Philadelphia 76ers are at the Miami Heat,...

In an era when much of sports broadcasting is dominated by hot takes, ESPN has decided to go with a class on-air announcing team for its NBA broadcast coverage.

The network said Monday that ever-steady play-by-play guy Mike Breen will be joined by Doris Burke and Doc Rivers on the broadcaster’s A-team for big games. The trio, along with reporter Lisa Salters, will call the NBA Finals, Eastern Conference Finals, NBA playoffs, and the Christmas Day and NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC series. The team will make its debut during ESPN’s opening week of NBA coverage in October.

As part of the changes, ESPN announced it has reached a multi-year deal with Rivers as well as a multi-year extension with Burke.

The arrangement will make the incomparable Burke the first woman to serve as a television analyst for a major men’s championship in the U.S.

She...

ESPN has drafted two new additions to its top NBA broadcast team: Doc Rivers and Doris Burke will join Mike Breen in the booth for the network’s biggest games, including the NBA Finals on ABC, it was announced on Monday.

Rivers and Burke will step in for Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy, who called NBA games for ESPN alongside Breen for years before exiting the network earlier this year in a highly publicized series of layoffs that claimed more than a dozen ESPN on-air personalities.

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Following rumors of the announcement, ESPN confirmed that Doris Burke and Doc Rivers will join Mike Breen as ABC‘s top NBA broadcasting team for the upcoming season. Burke will become the first woman to serve as a television color analyst for the NBA Finals. She previously served as the analyst for ESPN’s number 2 broadcasting team alongside Mark Jones. Rivers, who was an analyst for ABC during the 2003-04 season, has coached in the NBA for 24 seasons, winning a championship with the Celtics in 2008. He spent the last three years with the Sixers before getting fired in May. As a result, there will be more changes to several broadcasting teams, according to the network. Former Warriors general manager Bob Myers will join the network as a studio and game analyst. He will be a part of ABC’s versions of NBA Countdown, which will also see Malika Andrews with Stephen A. Smith,...

Nia Long's infectious smile has been melting the hearts of fans since she first appeared in "Boyz n the Hood" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" in the early '90s. Over the course of those three decades, it's only fair that people have been curious about the megastar's love life. While much of her dating history took place before social media and internet coverage, her longtime romance with Ime Udoka made headlines this past September for an unfortunate reason.

Amid their 12-year relationship, ESPN reported that Udoka had engaged in an intimate relationship with a woman Boston Celtics staff member while he was serving as head coach. Shortly after, the NBA team announced that they had suspended Udoka, citing "violations of team policies."

After the news made headlines, Udoka expressed his regret in a statement to ESPN's Malika Andrews, saying, "I want to apologize to our players, fans,...

Nia Long and Ime Udoka have broken up, a rep for Long confirmed to Popsugar on Dec. 6. "The situation is unfortunate and painful, but Nia is focusing on her children and rebuilding her life," a source told People that same day, with a rep for Long adding that they are "no longer together but remain fully committed to co-parenting their son [Kez]."

On Sept. 22, Udoka was suspended from his position as head coach of the Boston Celtics, the team announced in a statement. The message cited "violations of team policies" as reasons for his departure, adding that "a decision about his future with the Celtics will be made at a later date." The day before, ESPN reported that Udoka allegedly had a "role in an intimate relationship with a female member of the franchise's staff."

Shortly after, Udoka - who was engaged to actor Long at the time - addressed the...

Longtime sports journalist and broadcaster Rachel Nichols will join Showtime Basketball as a show host and producer, contributing to multiple platforms, programs and projects, the network said Friday.

“We are delighted to welcome Rachel Nichols to the Showtime Basketball family,” said Brian Dailey, senior VP of sports programming and content for Showtime. “Rachel brings unmatched journalistic credibility, great familiarity with our roster and a work ethic that will take us to another level.”

Nichols will contribute to Showtime Basketball’s premium, award-winning storytelling as she bolsters a group that features Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jr Smith and King of NBA Twitter Josiah Johnson.

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“I’ve been so fortunate to live my dream job alongside some of the best journalists in the business for more than 25 years, and this new development deal with Showtime Sports gives me my most broad playing field yet,...

The high-profile affair scandal surrounding Boston Celtics’ coach Ime Udoka is even more complicated than previously known.

A source tells Et that the unnamed female staff member with whom Udoka was involved was married, and their relationship was revealed due to the staffer’s doorbell camera at her home.

Read More: Nia Long Breaks Silence on Ime Udoka's NBA Suspension, Says She Is Focused 'On My Children'

The source says she took a call from Udoka outside her home and the doorbell camera picked up the conversation, exposing the affair.

The Boston Celtics coach has apologized after allegations surfaced in which he was accused of engaging in an intimate relationship with a female member of the team’s staff. A relationship with the unnamed staff member is reportedly against the franchise’s code of conduct. The 45-year-old has been suspended from the NBA for the entire 2022-2023 season.

Udoka has...

Nia Long has broken her silence on the scandal surrounding her longtime partner, Ime Udoka, and his suspension from the NBA.

The Boston Celtics coach has apologized after allegations surfaced in which he was accused of engaging in a consensual relationship with a female member of the team’s staff. A relationship with the unnamed staff member is reportedly against the franchise’s code of conduct. The 45-year-old has been suspended from the NBA for the entire 2022-2023 season.

The “Friday” actress has been engaged to Udoka for nearly a decade and shares a 10-year-old son, Kez, as well as Long’s son, Massai, from a previous relationship, with him.

“The outpouring of love and support from family, friends and the community during this difficult time means so much to me,” Long says in a new statement issued to Et. “I ask that my privacy be respected as I process the recent events.

Ime Udoka is speaking out in the wake of his NBA suspension.

The Boston Celtics coach is apologizing after allegations surfaced in which he was accused of engaging in a consensual relationship with a female member of the team’s staff. A relationship with the unnamed staff member is reportedly against the franchise’s code of conduct.

The 45-year-old has been suspended from the NBA for the entire 2022-2023 season.

“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” he said in a statement shared by ESPN’s “NBA Today” host Malika Andrews. “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”

The Celtics start their upcoming season on Oct.18 against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Td Garden in Boston,...

Malika Andrews is capping off a quick journey that has taken her from the sidelines of NBA games to a central seat at many of its big events.

The sportscaster is taking over the host duties of ESPN’s NBA Draft, succeeding Rece Davis, who led the broadcast for more than a decade. In doing so, Andrews cements her status as one of ESPN’s mainstay journalists, having been awarded hosting duties on “NBA Today” in 2021.

The June 23 Draft broadcast, emanating from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, will top off Andrews’ busy schedule in weeks ahead. She will also host the NBA Draft Lottery telecast this evening at 8 p.m. on ESPN, prior to Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. She also hosts “NBA Today” from the NBA Draft Combine at 3 p.m. on ESPN during the week of May 16. NBA Today will air on site at the NBA Draft on June 23 as well.

In 2020, the NBA and the NHL were the most assertive major American sports leagues in their efforts to contain the impact of Covid on their seasons. Both leagues employed “bubbles” that sequestered players and employed aggressive testing regimens to continue their seasons. About a year-and-a-half later, their paths have diverged.

Today, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league has “no plans” to halt games, despite the lightning-quick spread of the Omicon variant.

“No plans right now to pause the season,” Silver told host Malika Andrews on ESPN’s NBA Today. “We’ve, of course, looked at all the options, but frankly we’re having trouble coming up with what the logic would be behind pausing right now.”

That logic would have to justify losing one of the crown jewels of the league’s yearly TV schedule: Its Christmas Day block of games on ABC.

The marquee matchups set for Saturday include Boston at Milwaukee,...

After months of controversy involving an internally-leaked phone conversation, questions about management, conversations about diversity, fraught contract negotiations and the departure of two of the network’s top female hosts, ESPN announced on Friday a new show to replace its Rachel Nichols-fronted daily NBA flagship, The Jump.

The offering will be called simply NBA Today and will inhabit roughly the same time slot as The Jump. The show is to be hosted by ESPN’s ace NBA reporter — and frequent Jump fill-in frontwoman — Malika Andrews. The newly-minted show will also feature commentary from regular Jump analysts Kendrick Perkins, Vince Carter and Zach Lowe as well as reporting from Jump mainstays Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.

An excited Andrews took to Twitter to celebrate the news, reposting the network’s tweet with “Let’s do this!”

Let’s do this! https://t.co/0qPXQMi5iF

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) September 20, 2021

In...

Malika Andrews will replace Rachel Nichols as the face of ESPN’s regular NBA coverage, in a move executives no doubt hope will bring a difficult era at the Disney-backed sports-media giant to an end.

ESPN said Andrews, who is extending her contract, will anchor “NBA Today,” a new weekday basketball program that will air starting October 18, just a day before the big basketball league starts its next season. The new program will replace “The Jump” as ESPN’s daily NBA studio show, and that program will air its final episode on October 8.

Nichols had become embroiled in a controversy after a video recording of her complaining about a colleague, Maria Taylor, getting a role she had been promised surfaced at the network, spurring internal complaints and division within the Disney-owned sports-media giant. Taylor recently left ESPN and moved to NBC Sports and ESPN took Nichols off the air while...

With the NBA preseason set to start in about six weeks, ESPN has removed Rachel Nichols from its coverage of the league and canceled what is arguably its flagship NBA-focused show, The Jump, which Nichols fronted.

Nichols’ last appearance on the show was August 16. Since then, it has been hosted by ESPN NBA reporter Malika Andrews.

The cascade of events started this summer, when the New York Times reported on leaked comments made by Nichols, who is white, and another of the network’s highest-profile female hosts Maria Taylor, who is Black.

That led to a cascade of changes which saw Nichols removed from the networks NBA Finals coverage and Taylor, who subsequently left the network, elevated to hosting that coverage.

David Roberts, who this month was tapped to lead ESPN’s NBA production, including event and studio productions, said the following in a statement.

“We mutually agreed that this...

ESPN used to rely on two talented female sportscasters, Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor, for some of its top basketball coverage. Going forward, the network isn’t going to have either.

ESPN has decided to cancel “The Jump,” the Nichols-led weekday daily basketball-news program and take the sportscaster off of NBA coverage. The decision comes after Nichols had become embroiled in a controversy after a video recording of her complaining about a colleague, Maria Taylor, getting a role she had been promised, spurring internal complaints and division within the Disney-owned sports-media giant. Taylor recently left ESPN and moved to NBC Sports.

“We mutually agreed that this approach regarding our NBA coverage was best for all concerned,” said David Roberts, senior vice president for NBA production at ESPN, in a statement. “Rachel is an excellent reporter, host and journalist, and we thank her for her many contributions to our NBA content.

ESPN said Wednesday that it is parting ways NBA Countdown and NBA Finals host Maria Taylor after failing to come to terms on a contract extension. The news comes a day after what has turned out to be Taylor’s final assignment: covering the deciding Game 6 of the NBA Finals won by the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Maria’s remarkable success speaks directly to her abilities and work ethic,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN and Sports Content, in a memo today. “There is no doubt we will miss Maria, but we remain determined to continue to build a deep and skilled talent roster that thoroughly reflects the athletes we cover and the fans we serve. While she chose to pursue a new opportunity, we are proud of the work we’ve done together.”

Taylor had been the subject of leaked comments made by one of ESPN’s highest-profile female hosts, Rachel Nichols,...

ESPN analyst Maria Taylor is parting ways with the network, weeks after an internal controversy involving Taylor and ESPN anchor Rachel Nichols was made public.

The cable net announced on Wednesday that Taylor and ESPN were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension, making Taylor’s NBA Finals coverage on Tuesday night her final assignment for the network.

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In a memo sent to ESPN employees on Friday, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro addressed what he called “nuanced and complicated personnel matters” related to “recent events.” Those events revolve around leaked comments made by one of the the network’s highest-profile female hosts Rachel Nichols, who is white, and another of the network’s highest-profile female hosts Maria Taylor, who is Black.

Subsequent to the revelation of Nichols’ comments and her on-air apology to Taylor, the network announced that Taylor would be hosting the network’s pregame and halftime shows for the NBA Finals, which began last week. Those duties have been at the center of the controversy. In her comments as reported by the Times, Nichols, host of ESPN’s The Jump, worried about Taylor potentially assuming the Finals hosting role, which she also coveted.

ESPN said last week that Nichols would no longer would be the network’s...

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has weighed in on the ESPN dustup involving two of the sports giant’s on-air NBA reporters and anchors, Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor. On Tuesday, ESPN said that Nichols would not be handling sideline reporting duties for the NBA Finals (instead the job would go to Malika Andrews) but that she would continue to host her afternoon show The Jump.

“It’s disheartening,” Silver said during a press conference tied to the start of the NBA Finals, adding that the only information he had about the matter was from what he had read in The New York Times and elsewhere. “I think ...

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has weighed in on the ESPN dustup involving two of the sports giant’s on-air NBA reporters and anchors, Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor. On Tuesday, ESPN said that Nichols would not be handling sideline reporting duties for the NBA Finals (instead the job would go to Malika Andrews) but that she would continue to host her afternoon show The Jump.

“It’s disheartening,” Silver said during a press conference tied to the start of the NBA Finals, adding that the only information he had about the matter was from what he had read in The New York Times and elsewhere. “I think ...

On the day of the start of the NBA Finals, ESPN’s premiere daily NBA show was missing from the network’s schedule. Instead, according to the New York Post, viewers who tuned in on Tuesday found the two-man team of Jalen & Jacoby, who are usually The Jump‘s lead-in. A subsequent Jump schedule spot was filled by the network’s Highly Questionable.

According to Post media columnist Andrew Marchand, “the plan is to have it on tomorrow.”

News: ESPN canceled Rachel Nichols' The Jump for today, The Post has learned.

The plan is to have it on tomorrow.

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) July 6, 2021

The scheduling changes came just minutes after ESPN announced Tuesday that Maria Taylor will be hosting the network’s pregame and halftime shows for the NBA Finals. Those duties have been at the center of a controversy involving comments made by Rachel Nichols, host of The Jump,...

Updated, 10:30 a.m: After three days of turmoil, ESPN announced Tuesday that Maria Taylor will be hosting the network’s pregame and halftime shows for the NBA Finals. Those duties have been at the center of a controversy involving comments made by Rachel Nichols, host of ESPN’s The Jump, about Taylor potentially assuming that role.

ESPN also said that Nichols no longer will be the network’s sideline reporter for the Finals, a position she held last year and during big games this season. That role will go to the network’s NBA reporter, Malika Andrews.

Nichols, who is white, was heard on a video expressing exasperation over Taylor, who is Black, being given NBA Finals hosting duties last year. The private comments were captured by a live internal feed and became the basis for a New York Times story this weekend.

The Jump host apologized Monday, and...

Rachel Nichols will not be suiting up as sideline reporter for this year’s NBA Finals, in the wake of her year-old comments about ESPN colleague Maria Taylor coming to light.

Malika Andrews will instead serve as sideline reporter for the championship series.

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Nichols will, however, continue to host The Jump, ESPN’s weekday NBA show, during the NBA Finals, alongside a cast of analysts and reporters including Richard Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins.

In July 2020, during...

ESPN had to devise a new game plan for the NBA Finals.

The Disney-owned sports-media giant said it would move its veteran basketball reporter Rachel Nichols off sideline duties for the NBA Finals, slated to be broadcast tonight on ABC and feature the Milwaukee Bucks taking on the Phoenix Suns, and utilize Malika Andrews instead as it grapples with new scrutiny over how it handled a bizarre leak of Nichols on video appearing to disparage last year’s decision to use Maria Taylor in the 2020 Finals production.

“We believe this is best decision for all concerned in order to keep the focus on the NBA Finals. Rachel will continue to host ‘The Jump,” ESPN said in a statement Tuesday, referring to its daily basketball-news program.

Executives at the sports outlet no doubt hope the decision will put to rest a period of inner discord. In July of last year, Nichols...

Update: An earlier version of this article incorrectly displayed a photo of actress Rachel Nichols (I) and linked to her page. This has now been corrected. We regret this error.

ESPN has benched Rachel Nichols for its coverage of the NBA Finals, following the uproar for her comments regarding Maria Taylor in 2020, where she suggested Taylor was picked over her to cover last year’s NBA Finals because of her race.

Malika Andrews will serve as the sideline reporter during the 2021 Finals; Nichols had held that position throughout the playoffs as part of ESPN’s top broadcast team with Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson. Nichols will still host her daily ESPN show “The Jump” on-site during the series.

Taylor will host the pre-game and halftime studio coverage, as she’s done all postseason. The NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns tip off Tuesday night from Phoenix on ABC.

“We believe this is best decision for all concerned in order to keep the focus on the NBA Finals. Rachel will continue to host ‘The Jump,...

ESPN says that Malika Andrews will be the sideline reporter for its coverage of the NBA Finals, which tip off tonight between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns.

Andrews will be replacing Rachel Nichols, who has long been ESPN’s primary sideline reporter and was initially slated to serve in that role for this year’s NBA Finals.

“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. “Rachel will continue to host The Jump [her daily NBA show on ESPN 2].”

The decision came after Nichols ...

ESPN says that Malika Andrews will be the sideline reporter for its coverage of the NBA Finals, which tip off tonight between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns.

Andrews will be replacing Rachel Nichols, who has long been ESPN’s primary sideline reporter and was initially slated to serve in that role for this year’s NBA Finals.

“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. “Rachel will continue to host The Jump [her daily NBA show on ESPN 2].”

The decision came after Nichols ...

All three of Wednesday’s NBA playoff games, including the fixture between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers, have been postponed due to player strikes over the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, Variety has confirmed.

The news emerged shortly after the Milwaukee Bucks team decided not to take the court for its game with the Orlando Magic.

Tip-off between the two teams was scheduled for 1 p.m. Pt, but the Bucks remained in the locker rooms. The Magic had been warming up for the game, but then left the court when it became clear their opponents weren’t coming out.

Here’s the official announcement from the NBA obtained by Variety:

“The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association today announced that in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor today for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic, today’s three games – Bucks vs.