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ESPN takes Rachel Nichols off NBA programming

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ESPN has taken Rachel Nichols off of all NBA programming and will cancel her weekday afternoon show “The Jump,” the network confirmed today. Nichols was told of the moves this week, sources said. Nichols remains under contract with ESPN -- a contract that has more than a year remaining. However, it is unlikely that she will appear on ESPN’s air during that time.

“We mutually agreed that this approach regarding our NBA coverage was best for all concerned,” ESPN Senior VP/Production David Roberts said in a statement emailed to SBJ. “Rachel is an excellent reporter, host and journalist, and we thank her for her many contributions to our NBA content.”

This marks the first of several changes that are coming to ESPN’s NBA coverage this season. Roberts took over as the production exec overseeing ESPN’s NBA coverage two weeks ago, and this marks his first big move to reset how the network covers the NBA.

In addition, “NBA Countdown” needs a new host since Maria Taylor left for NBC, and analyst Jalen Rose’s role on ESPN’s NBA studio shows is in question, sources said. Roberts decided to cancel “The Jump,” which will run for a few more episodes over the next couple of weeks -- none of which will be hosted by Nichols. ESPN will launch a new afternoon NBA show in the lead-up to next season, but execs had no firm details on that show’s format or host. 

The move comes about a year after a private conversation that Nichols had with sports PR exec Adam Mendelsohn, when the NBA host complained that Taylor was chosen to host “NBA Countdown” during the NBA Finals. Nichols as part of her contract had been promised that role. Unbeknownst to Nichols, the comments were recorded and distributed among several ESPN employees. Details of the conversation and the subsequent fallout were reported by the N.Y. Times earlier this summer. Taylor has since left the network, agreeing to a deal with NBC Sports.

ESPN launched “The Jump” in February ‘16 and found success with it. Nichols was nominated for a Sports Emmy as best host earlier this year. The show itself was nominated for a Sports Emmy the year before.

ESPN has made several on-air changes over the past several months. Just this week, it moved Max Kellerman off of “First Take,” and he will host his own weekday afternoon show on ESPN in the coming weeks. Nichols is repped by CAA’s Jeff Jacobs.

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