Former Portland Trail Blazers play-by-play announcer Braiden Bell, alongside his attorney, seeks reinstatement after a termination related to old social media posts. Bell, 29, was initially hired from the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury as the NBA’s youngest lead broadcaster, replacing Kevin Calabro.

Bell’s contract ended abruptly after tweets from his teenage years resurfaced. One tweet from December 2012 stated, “I’m not racist at all.. But not gonna lie.. Asian people p— me off! Hahaha #Honest.” Another from July 2013 read, “no blacks either. #racist.”

Bell hired sports employment attorney Arnie Herz. Herz, known for defending San Antonio Spurs broadcaster Jacob Tobey in a similar situation, advocates for Bell’s return.

“Should the worst words a fifteen-year-old ever wrote decide the rest of his life?” Herz’s statement challenges the Blazers.

Herz emphasizes Bell’s accountability and growth, questioning if adolescent mistakes should define current character. Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks recently played against the Trail Blazers at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, highlighting ongoing events in the arena.

Bell issued a public apology, recognizing his past comments’ impact. “I am deeply sorry for the language I used. These tweets, made when I was 15, do not reflect my current self,” Bell expressed. He affirmed the understanding of his true character by those who know him personally.

The Blazers acted by releasing Bell, citing policy breach. “The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for harmful comments,” they stated. The team emphasized its high standards for broadcast roles in both skill and character.

The organization acknowledged missteps in the hiring process, apologizing to fans and promising alignment with inclusive values moving forward.

Despite calls for Bell’s reinstatement, the Trail Blazers reiterated their stance, stating, “We stand by our statement issued last week and have no further comment.”