Previous NBA player Stephen Jackson came to the defense of ESPNs Rachel Nichols, after she made comments about her associate Maria Taylor, calling it a “diversity” hire when the 24-hour sports network offered her the hosting task of “NBA Countdown” throughout the 2020 NBA Finals inside the Orlando bubble.The story came about after The New York Times on Sunday made public a dripped audio recording of Nichols, who failed to turn off her video electronic camera following a live broadcast on the network.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMJackson, who has made several appearances on Nichols ESPN program, “The Jump”, safeguarded her and blamed the network for the problem after they provided Taylor “a compassion job” amid the Black Lives Matter motion. ESPN tried to make themselves look great by taking the job from Rachel that she had actually currently had, that they already told her she had, that she deserved, and offer it to Maria simply to make themselves look good. Mendelsohn told Nichols that ESPN is a “snake pit,” and she must be careful.”Those same people– who are, like, typically white conservative male Trump voters– is part of the reason Ive had a tough time at ESPN,” Nichols said through the New York Post. Nichols explained that she was expressing herself to a friend about her frustration, not with Taylor, but with ESPN.

Former NBA gamer Stephen Jackson came to the defense of ESPNs Rachel Nichols, after she made comments about her colleague Maria Taylor, calling it a “diversity” work with when the 24-hour sports network gave her the hosting job of “NBA Countdown” throughout the 2020 NBA Finals inside the Orlando bubble.The story came about after The New York Times on Sunday made public a dripped audio recording of Nichols, who failed to shut off her camera following a live broadcast on the network.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMJackson, who has made a number of appearances on Nichols ESPN show, “The Jump”, protected her and blamed the network for the concern after they gave Taylor “a sympathy job” in the middle of the Black Lives Matter motion.”We all rattle on. We say things when we are disappointed. And you understand, Rachel [Nichols] did should have that task. Its simply plain and easy. I spoke with Rachel and I know a great deal of things she was stating out of aggravation due to the fact that ESPN put her in a bad position,” Jackson said during a tirade on Instagram. “And they even put Maria [Taylor] in a position attempting to provide her a sympathy task.”They were trying to make themselves look excellent since all the Black Lives Matter and George Floyd things was going on. So ESPN tried to make themselves look good by taking the task from Rachel that she had actually already had, that they already informed her she had, that she should have, and provide it to Maria just to make themselves look great.”Jackson continued: “It wasnt an authentic task they desired to give Maria. ESPN lags all of this. Its all their fault. I cant blame Rachel, I like Rachel, and Im going to back up her. I talked to her. And Im going to support Maria, too.”RACHEL NICHOLS MADE MARIA TAYLOR DIVERSITY DIG IN SECRET ESPN VIDEOIn the video acquired by the New York Times, Nichols applauded Taylor, stating that she wishes here “all the success in the world”, however followed that by blaming ESPN for its “lousy longtime record on diversity.””If you require to offer her more things to do due to the fact that you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on variety– which, by the way, I understand personally from the female side of it– like, go all out. Simply discover it elsewhere. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing away,” Nichols said. “I just desire them to go somewhere else– its in my agreement, by the method; this task remains in my contract in composing.”The comments was available in a discussion with Adam Mendelsohn, a consultant to LeBron James and his representative Rich Paul. Mendelsohn told Nichols that ESPN is a “snake pit,” and she ought to beware.”Those exact same people– who are, like, usually white conservative male Trump voters– becomes part of the factor Ive had a difficult time at ESPN,” Nichols said through the New York Post. “I generally finally simply outworked everybody for so long that they had to acknowledge it. I dont wish to then be a victim of them trying to play catch-up for the same damage that affected me in the first place, you understand what I indicate. Im trying to just be good.”CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPESPN declined to talk about the situation.Nichols informed the New York Times that she has connected to Taylor but she did not get an action. Nichols explained that she was expressing herself to a good friend about her frustration, not with Taylor, however with ESPN.”My own objectives because conversation, and the opinion of those in charge at ESPN, are not the amount of what matters here– if Maria felt the conversation was disturbing, then it was, and I was the reason for that for her,” she informed the newspaper.The New York Post contributed to this report.