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Fans praise 'brilliant' Malika Andrews after ESPN boots Rachel Nichols off NBA Finals

Rachel Nichols is no longer ESPN's NBA Finals reporter after her racist comments against colleague Maria Taylor

ESPN benched journalist Rachel Nichols from covering the NBA Finals after a tape surfaced of her making racist comments about her colleague, Maria Taylor. Now, Malika Andrews is covering the game and the Internet is all praises for her.

In leaked audio, Nichols, who is White, reportedly criticized ESPN for picking Taylor, who is Black, to report on the sidelines of the NBA Finals over her.  "If you need to give her more things to do because you're feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity which, by the way, I myself know personally like, go for it, just find it somewhere else," the recording said. Later, Nichols apologized on 'The Jump', a show she co-hosts on ESPN.  "I also don't want to let this moment pass without saying how deeply, deeply sorry I am for disappointing those I hurt, particularly Maria Taylor," she said. Later, it was revealed that instead of Nichols, reporter Malika Andrews will give sideline reports. ESPN also announced that Nichols will still host "The Jump" during the NBA Finals.

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As soon as the game started on Tuesday, July 20, people started making fun of Nichols and praised Andrews for her reporting style. One person posted a funny gif and wrote, "Rachel Nichols watching Malika Andrews present the finals trophy to perfection." While one said, "I know Rachel Nichols just threw a White Claw at her TV just now." Another one made fun of Nichols and tweeted, "I bet Rachel Nichols at home mad asf she ain't covering this finals."

Praising Andrews, one person said, "Giannis wasn’t the only MVP tonight, 26-year-old Malika Andrews has seemingly made Rachel Nichols irrelevant going forward." Another one tweeted, "Just a reminder, Malika Andrews REPLACED Rachel Nichols as the sideline reporter for the NBA Finals. Great choice ESPN, great choice."

One person said, "We ain’t forget, Rachel Nichols." While one person suggested that, "Rachel nichols crying at home on the couch rn LOL" Another one tweeted, "This was supposed to be Rachel Nichols thank the heavens for Malika."