By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Portland Trail Blazers have abruptly reversed course, parting ways with broadcaster Braiden Bell just hours after naming him their new television play-by-play announcer on Thursday.
The swift decision came after a local KGW reporter uncovered social media posts from Bell’s past. These resurfaced public messages, written over a decade ago when Bell was a teenager, contained racist and misogynistic remarks targeting women and Asian communities.
Bell is now 29.
The franchise quickly released an official statement addressing the situation.
Per the press release: “The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful comments. 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.
The play-by-play role carries a long legacy of excellence, on the broadcast and in character, and we hold that standard without exception. 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.”
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) October 2, 2026
This sudden dismissal leaves Portland with an unexpected vacancy right before the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season begins.
The former broadcaster of WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the G League’s Valley Suns had just been hired to replace longtime caller Kevin Calabro. Those credentials initially made him an attractive candidate for the role.
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