Rachel Nichols will not serve as ESPN's sideline reporter for the 2021 NBA Finals, the network announced. Nichols will be replaced by Malika Andrews.
News of Nichols being taken off of the Finals assignment comes after a New York Times report detailing a conversation from last July, in which Nichols lamented ESPN reporter Maria Taylor’s increased NBA coverage at the network. Nichols also claimed in that conversation, which was media and athlete adviser Adam Mendelsohn, that Taylor's additional responsibility was at least in part due to ESPN's "crappy longtime record on diversity."
"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 Tuesday.