When it comes to NBA sports broadcasters, there aren’t many in the business better than Rachel Nichols. As a host of “The Jump” and frequent face of ESPN, she is one of the most well-known faces in her field.
Still, fans weren’t happy after her interview with Tim Duncan. In honor of his Hall-of-Fame induction, she sat down with him for a short chat, eventually asking a question about a moment he shared with LeBron James.
“After the final game, you said ‘this is going to be your league, appreciate you giving us a year,’ what was that moment like?” (start at 3:50)
This interview was nearly 20 years in the making – such a treat to chat & laugh & reminisce with Tim Duncan as he’s inducted into the Hall of Fame. We talked his amazing career, his relationship with Pop (including the text messages Pop sends him – yes, Pop texts!) & so much more pic.twitter.com/63TbiayU09
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 15, 2021
It was just one question in what was otherwise an excellent interview, but fans didn’t let up in their criticism.
Leave it to Rachel Nichols to force Tim Duncan to talk about Lebron the day before he gets inducted into the HOF.
— FlamingGeki (@DimSumOpieOP) May 15, 2021
Rachel Nichols interviews Timmy (Tim Duncan) as he gets inducted into the Hall of Fame and starts asking him about how great Lebron James is. I'll leave it at this.#timduncan
— .Joy Jagpreet Singh (ਜਾੱਈ ਜਗਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ) ☬ (@joysinghg) May 14, 2021
Rachel Nichols interview caused me second hand embarrassment. Why is Tim Duncan’s interview got anything to do with LeBron James?
— Stephanie McCarroll (@SoCaliSteph) May 14, 2021
Rachel Nichols: Tim, how great is Lebron
Duncan: ….My career was better.
It’s almost as if someone is paying for the enhancement of Lebrons legacy…🤦🏽♂️
— Gtown5300 (@Gtown53001) May 14, 2021
Tim Duncan should’ve started talking about laying the biggest beatdown in NBA finals history against LeBron and the Heat when Rachel Nichols asked that nonsense
— Fitz (@FitzGSN_) May 14, 2021
I didn’t believe it so I had to see and hear it for myself. Rachel Nichols found a way to make Tim Duncan talk about Lebron during his own hall of fame induction interview. Lmfao I need ESPN to crash and burn 😂😂😂😂😂
— Lion (The System) (@Champ_Lion) May 14, 2021
Admittedly, the criticism is a bit unfair, especially because Duncan himself didn’t seem to have any problem answering the question.
But, as usual, LeBron’s name is going to incite some controversy. Love him or hate him, almost everybody has strong feelings about him.
And while it may seem out of place to bring him up in a chat about Tim Duncan’s Hall-of-Fame induction, it definitely makes for an interesting bit.
But what do you think? Did Nichols cross the line, or are people overreacting to hearing LeBron’s name?
