Right before Game 4 of the NBA Finals, it was revealed by Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy that ESPN host Maria Taylor is close to signing a deal with NBC with a source telling McCarthy things are “at the half-yard line.”
This comes at a rather important time for Taylor. After the fallout from Rachel Nichols’ comments on Taylor hosting the NBA Finals as well as reports of ESPN cutting their offer to her from a year ago, Taylor’s reported interest from NBC may mean ESPN might have to either offer more than they were expecting to get her to stay or let her go to NBC.
With Taylor’s contract ending on Tuesday, there’s a chance that the current NBA Finals host might not be there to host Games 6 and 7. Time is ticking and it remains to be seen what happens next but some within the sports media world took notice to Taylor potentially moving to NBC.
Not saying Maria Taylor would do sideline for Notre Dame home games, but that would be something. https://t.co/icouz6S14Q
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) July 15, 2021
Maria Taylor after leaves ESPN for NBC Sports pic.twitter.com/Sby8cA7zvo
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) July 15, 2021
Jemele Hill, Josina Anderson, Cari Champion, and possibly soon…Maria Taylor.
Bad form ESPN, bad form.
— Andrew Hammond (@ahammALDC) July 15, 2021
Looks like we might be getting a new teammate
Come on board @MariaTaylor! https://t.co/mjdYOtRbUd
— Grant Liffmann (@GrantLiffmann) July 15, 2021
Happy for her!
College Gameday will miss her greatly
— dylan sanders (@DillySanders) July 15, 2021
Get that bag. 💰 https://t.co/UZHw9sWsHE
— O.J. Spivey (@OJPhilly) July 15, 2021
Whether she stays at ESPN or moves to NBC, the ball may be more and more in Taylor’s court the closer she gets to the end of her ESPN contract.
About Phillip Bupp
Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.
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