Broadcaster Seeks Reinstatement
Fired Trail Blazers Broadcaster Seeks Reinstatement Following Resurfaced Social Media Posts
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The Trail Blazers said Bell’s posts violated team and league policies and its values, declaring, “The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful comments.”
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Bell’s attorney also urged the NBA to weigh in, saying the league could help shift the response from “moral absolutism” toward “accountability, compassion and understanding.”
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Before the Blazers job, Bell had called games for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the NBA G League’s Valley Suns; he graduated from Arizona State in 2019.
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Bell was set to replace Kevin Calabro, who had accepted a job with the Minnesota Timberwolves the previous month.
Braiden Bell, hired as the Portland Trail Blazers' play-by-play broadcaster, was fired hours later when racist and misogynistic posts from his teenage years resurfaced online. Hoops Wire reported that Bell has now hired attorney Arnie Herz and is formally asking the team to reinstate him, saying he has since grown and should not be judged solely by old mistakes.
The Trail Blazers rejected the plea, stating they have zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful comments and stand by their decision. Bell's legal team has also urged the NBA to intervene, arguing the league could help shift the conversation from what they called moral absolutism toward accountability, compassion and understanding.
From Hiring to Firing in Hours
Bell was announced as Kevin Calabro's replacement on the Blazers broadcast team after Calabro joined the Minnesota Timberwolves the previous month. Within hours of the announcement, old social media posts from when Bell was a teenager surfaced, triggering an immediate investigation. Larry Brown Sports reported that the 29-year-old announcer was let go the same day he was hired.
The Proposed Path to Redemption
Through his attorney, Bell has offered to undertake community and educational work as a form of accountability. His plan includes outreach to Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and organizations supporting women and girls in sports. He has also publicly apologized for the posts and emphasized that he is not the same person who wrote them as a teenager.
The Blazers and NBA Take a Hard Line
The Trail Blazers issued a firm statement, saying The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful comments. Blazers Edge confirmed the team has no plans to reconsider and will not comment further on the matter. Bell's attorney appealed directly to the NBA, hoping the league might push for a different approach than permanent termination.
Bell's Broadcasting Background Before the Blazers
Bell graduated from Arizona State University in 2019 and had established himself in professional basketball broadcasting before joining the Blazers. He served as a play-by-play announcer for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and the NBA G League's Valley Suns. His track record in those roles did not shield him from consequences once the old posts came to light.
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