Rachel Nichols and 'The Jump' to Take Over for 'NBA Countdown' as ESPN's Top NBA Pregame Show

As expected, Michelle Beadle will no longer host ESPN’s NBA pregame show, “NBA Countdown,” but the network is making more changes than that. Rachel Nichols and her daily afternoon studio show, “The Jump” will now serve as the pre-eminent pregame show for ESPN and ABC’s marquee games.

“The Jump” will become the on-site pregame show for all Saturday night games that air on ABC, as well as the Christmas Day game and the NBA Finals. “The Jump” will still air daily at 3 p.m. ET.

“NBA Countdown” will still serve as the pregame studio show for the rest of ESPN and ABC’s NBA schedule, with Maria Taylor taking over as host from Beadle. An individual with knowledge of the plans told TheWrap that Beadle and ESPN are close to finalizing an agreement for the two to mutually part ways.

Also Read: ESPN to Launch Daily Sports Show on Quibi in 2020

Taylor will continue to be part of ESPN’s college football and women’s college basketball coverage. Jalen Rose will return to “Countdown” with Paul Pierce shifting over to a broader role across ESPN’s NBA coverage. Jay Williams will fill Pierce’s spot on “Countdown.”

“The NBA is incredibly important to all that we do,” Connor Schell, ESPN executive vice president of content, said. “This new pregame studio strategy will continue to elevate our NBA coverage and will be led by a talented array of voices who are committed to excellence, understand how to communicate to NBA fans, and are deeply passionate about the sport. We can’t wait for the season to get started.”

Rob Gronkowski, Snoop Dogg, Nikki Bella Fuel ESPYS Week Parties (Photos)

The Oscars of the sports world has expanded into a full week of ESPYS-related parties - with Rob Gronkowski seemingly making it to all of them.
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The former Patriots tight end went to head-to-head with Floyd Mayweather to tip off the week in the Monster Energy $50K Charity Challenge Celebrity Basketball Game at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion.
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Team captain Gronk was joined by his biggest cheerleader/girlfriend, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover model, Camille Kostek. Rob also recruited big brother Chris Gronkowski onto his team, but still went down fighting to Team Mayweather.
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Snoop Dogg acted as Team Gronk's coach for the celeb-filled game that raised money for Teen Cancer America.
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"Dancing With the Stars" pros Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy forgot to keep their eyes on the ball as the sat courtside.
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MVP of party-rocking and future NFL Hall of Famer Gronk hosted the ESPYS Official Pre-Party at Hotel Figueroa in downtown LA. the night before the 2019 awards.
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If you ever wonder where the three-time Super Bowl champion gets his dance moves from, look no further than Gordy "Papa Gronk" Gronkowski.
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Yep, the apple doesn't fall far from tree as Chris, Dan and Rob Gronkowski prepared to set the dance-floor on fire to tunes by DJ D-Nice.
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Jimmy V Award for Perseverance honoree Rob Mendez, a football coach born without arms or legs, joined in the dance-off with the Gronks, Paralympians and Afghanistan veteran Israel Del Toro.
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Cassidy Hubbarth, Katie Nolan and Dianna Russini walked the red carpet at the pre-ESPYS party before hosting ESPN's "Red Carpet Live" on Twitter the following day.
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2018 U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka proved that golfers can party too.
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Also on Tuesday night, the Players' Tribune founder Derek Jeter welcomed stars such as Cam Newton to the Players’ Night Out party in Hollywood.
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WNBA teammates Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird took advantage of the couch to give their feet a break at the Players’ Night Out party.
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Legends Award honoree Dwyane Wade walked the orange carpet with his kids at the Nickelodeon "Kids' Choice Sports" before getting drowned in gold slime ... (be sure to take that expensive watch off, Wade!)
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It's about to get messy between skateboarding phenomena Nyjah Huston and Gronk at Nickelodeon's "Kids' Choice Sports."
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Snowboarders Chloe Kim and Toby Miller prove they're the cutest couple in extreme sports.
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Cedars-Sinai and Sports Spectacular closed out the festivities with the 34th Annual Gala Celebration on Monday, once again held at Snoop Dogg's (with MMA ring announcer Bruce Buffer) compound in Inglewood.
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First-time attendee WWE Superstar Nikki Bella pledged her support to the Sports Spectacular Diabetes and Obesity Wellness and Research Center. "I am now in for life, I love when you can be at such an amazing event that raises awareness for such a good cause," she told TheWrap. "It is so important as athletes with our platforms to educate people."
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L.A. Rams running back Todd Gurley now has Sports Spectacular's NFL Player of the Year Award -- presented by none other than Snoop Dogg -- to add to his trophy cabinet.
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Former San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, who is now in the fighting business with Lights Out Extreme Fighting, swapped moves with former UFC champion Tyron Woodley at the Sports Spectacular gala.
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The most talented siblings in the WNBA, L.A. Sparks teammates Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike shared health tips at the Sports Spectacular gala before checking out the Beyond Meat-catered cuisine.
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LAFC teammates Walker Zimmerman and Tyler Miller were on hand when the MLS team, now in its second season, won the Community Spirit Award. "From the beginning, they made it a point to get involved with the community, being the first soccer team in downtown L.A.," Zimmerman (left) told TheWrap. "It is a testament to people in the front office but also our supporters, who get involved with every type of charity event."
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Currently out with an ACL injury that she suffered while playing in Europe, Seattle Storm WNBA star Stewart reminded Sports Spectacular guests that "Women Ball Too," before collecting the award for Female Athlete of the Year.
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