David Roberts, ESPN’s senior vice president of production, said in a statement to CNN Business that the sides “mutually agreed that this approach regarding our NBA coverage was best for all concerned.”
“Rachel is an excellent reporter, host and journalist, and we thank her for her many contributions to our NBA content,” he added.
The news regarding Nichols is notable not just because she is one of the most well-known NBA hosts on the network, if not the entire sport, but also because it comes a month after comments from Nichols embroiled her, one of her colleagues and ESPN in controversy.
Nichols then apologized on air, saying how “deeply, deeply sorry I am for disappointing those I hurt, particularly Maria Taylor.”
Nichols, who still has more than a year left on her contract, took a moment to thank her crew from “The Jump.”
“Got to create a whole show and spend five years hanging out with some of my favorite people, talking about one my favorite things,” Nichols tweeted. “An eternal thank you to our amazing producers & crew — The Jump was never built to last forever but it sure was fun.”
Nichols ended the tweet saying, “More to come…”