Adam Silver Thought ESPN Would Have Worked Through Taylor, Nichols Situation Better

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ESPN's ongoing scandal based on leaked audio from the company's own Rachel Nichols has turned into trouble for the NBA.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver chimed in on the controversy by calling the situation "disheartening" and criticizing ESPN for not quelling tensions stemming from 2020.

In an interview regarding coverage of the Finals, Silver provided some positive feedback for both on-air personalities, while keeping the focus and blame on ESPN for mishandling the situation after the leaked audio became a trending story over Independence Day weekend.

Silver said: “(It’s) creating a climate where people are comfortable saying what’s on their mind, where people are given the benefit of the doubt, especially long-term employees that are in good standing that when they do make comments, that people recognize that people make mistakes, that careers shouldn’t be erased by a single comment, that we should be judging people by the larger context of their body of work and who they are.

“I think it’s particularly unfortunate that two women in the industry are pitted against each other. I know that both Rachel and Maria are terrific at what they do. They work extraordinarily hard."

In the leaked recording, Nichols called out ESPN for their agenda of hiring reporters based exclusively on race and coming at the behest of out of touch ESPN executives. By calling out Maria Taylor as a potential "diversity hire" for the NBA Finals sideline reporter role, the consequences of spouting PC mantas finally caught up with the long-time ESPN personality.

As noted by Clay Travis in an interview with Fox & Friends Wednesday morning, Rachel Nichols' transcript as a woke commentator for ESPN and the NBA — two companies that have led the PC movement in sports — gives the situation some poetic justice.

Reasonable assessments from figures around the league and network have not outright condemned Nichols' sentiments, but critics have pointed out the difference in tone from what's said behind closed doors at ESPN and in front of cameras.

Since the leaked audio made news on Sunday, Nichols has lost out on the NBA Finals sideline role, and is likely on shaky ground with her ESPN show, The Jump, after Tuesday's episode was canceled in response to the controversy.