Braiden Bell fired in 8 hours; Blazers’ vetting flaw exposed

Dustin Judge
Moda Center in Portland, where Braiden Bell was to join the Trail Blazers broadcast team

The Portland Trail Blazers fired new play-by-play announcer Braiden Bell on Thursday, about eight hours after announcing his hiring, because of racist and misogynistic social media posts he wrote as a teenager.

Why the Blazers fired Braiden Bell

Portland TV station KGW found the posts and asked the team for comment, and the Blazers then reversed course. The posts date to 2012 and 2013. Bell is now 29.

Braiden Bell previously called games for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the G League’s Valley Suns, according to KATU. He also called Division I college games for Arizona State and California Baptist. He had been scheduled to meet fans at the team’s Fan Fest on Sunday at Moda Center, an appearance that will no longer happen.

What the Blazers said

“The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist or harmful comments,” the team said in a statement, adding that the posts violated team and league policies.

The team also acknowledged a hiring misstep. “We did not meet our own bar in this process, and for that we apologize to Blazers fans and to Rip City,” it said.

A new hole in the Blazers broadcast booth

Braiden Bell was set to replace Kevin Calabro, who called Blazers television games for nine seasons before leaving this summer. Calabro told The Oregonian that the team’s latest contract offer was “subprime.”

Bell was to work alongside analyst Lamar Hurd. His firing comes during a broadcast shake-up under owner Tom Dundon, whose cost-cutting has already hit the franchise’s business operations. On the court, Portland is still sorting out a crowded backcourt, and the front office has reportedly preferred to keep Jrue Holiday after adding Ja Morant.

What’s next for Portland

The Blazers open the 2026-27 season at home against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 21, according to the Rose Garden Report. That leaves the team about three weeks to find a new television voice.

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.