The Portland Trail Blazers announced Thursday that they have terminated Braiden Bell, the broadcaster they had just hired to call games on television. The decision came after a review of posts Bell made on his X (formerly Twitter) account in 2012 and 2013, when he was 15 years old.
Zero‑tolerance policy invoked
“The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful comments,” the organization said in a statement. “Social media posts made by our recently announced play‑by‑play broadcaster are in clear violation of team and league policies, as well as our values and expectations. Therefore, we will not be moving forward with this broadcaster.”
Bell, 29, previously called games for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the NBA G League’s Valley Suns. He was slated to replace longtime voice Kevin Calabro when the hiring was announced on Thursday.
Bell’s apology
In a follow‑up post on X on Friday, Bell apologized, writing, “I am deeply sorry for the language that I used on Twitter. These tweets, while wrong, were written by me 14 years ago while I was only 15 years old and have no reflection of who I am today. I do not take lightly any harm it causes now.” He added that he hopes those who know him understand the posts do not represent his current character.
Team’s response to fans
The Blazers also addressed their fan base, saying, “We did not meet our own bar in this process, and for that we apologize to Blazers fans and to Rip City. We believe strongly that everyone who is a part of Rip City should feel welcome and safe and we will make sure that our new broadcaster reflects these values. We will do better.”
The incident was first reported by KGW‑TV in Portland, which highlighted the resurfaced tweets and prompted the rapid response from the franchise.
Impact on the broadcast crew
With Bell’s contract terminated, the Trail Blazers will need to identify a replacement for the upcoming season. The organization has not indicated whether they will promote from within or conduct a new external search.
Portland fans expressed mixed reactions on social media, with many praising the team’s swift action to uphold its stated standards, while others called for a broader conversation about how organizations evaluate past behavior in the digital age.
Looking ahead
The Trail Blazers remain focused on preparing for the 2026‑27 NBA season. The franchise reiterated its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for players, staff, and supporters alike, emphasizing that the values of respect and kindness will guide future hiring decisions.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
