Adam Silver responds to ESPN’s inner turmoil involving Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor: ‘It’s particularly unfortunate’

Usually, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver steps on stage here to talk about the state of the league and the success of the NBA Finals participants.

But in his media availability before Game 1 between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks, Silver also chimed in on ESPN dealing with inner turmoil involving NBA anchors Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor.

“It’s particularly unfortunate that two women in the industry are pitted against each other,” Silver said. “Both Rachel and Maria are terrific at what they do. They work extraordinarily hard.”

The New York Times Obtained a leaked recording  of a phone conversation during last year’s NBA bubble between Nichols and Adam Mendelsohn, the advisor of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. Then, Nichols expressed frustration that ESPN assigned Taylor to last year’s NBA Finals and stated it was in her contract that she would have those responsibilities. After praising Taylor, Nichols argued that ESPN did so amid pressure to improve its racially inclusive work-place practices.

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