The NBA released the media voting results for its end-of-season awards to the public on Friday, which meant that several reporters across the country had angry fans in their mentions asking them to clarify their ballot. One of these reporters was ESPN’s Maria Taylor, who left Lakers center Anthony Davis off her ballot entirely.
Davis received 99 out of 100 total media votes to make an All-NBA team, including 79 first-team selections, and 20 second-team selections. The only member of the media to not cast a vote for Davis was Taylor, and once fans on Twitter noticed and started calling her out, she explained that it was a “CLEAR mistake.”
Wow it’s been a long week. But if everyone would now like to take away my voter privileges because of a CLEAR mistake. Please feel free.
— Maria Taylor (@MariaTaylor) September 19, 2020
Fox Sports’ Doug Gottlieb chimed in on the controversy, and openly asked why Taylor deserves to vote on the NBA’s All-NBA teams, arguing that she isn’t qualified for the privilege.
Why does Maria Taylor have a vote? Real question. She is a studio host/sideline reporter in her first year covering the NBA. She works a ton, not just on the league. No reason for her to have a vote https://t.co/Sy2M2jW9Pb
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) September 19, 2020
Studio hosts don’t give opinions. Analysts do. Panel of voters should be all former players, coaches, execs and current analysts. Doris yes. Maria No. this isn’t hard https://t.co/6hKt7p4mzm
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) September 19, 2020
It ain’t sexist. Don’t care that she is a wonderfully talented woman. In covering the NBA – to be a host, one who is working all over the place, she is being asked to do something she isn’t the most qualified to do. Period https://t.co/eZXn1LVwv3
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) September 19, 2020
Many fans and fellow media members defended Taylor, and she spelled out exactly why she gets a vote in a direct response to Gottlieb.
Because I PLAYED basketball…I COVER the league. And I DESERVE everything I’ve worked hard for. https://t.co/JwLjk6dsb9
— Maria Taylor (@MariaTaylor) September 19, 2020
Gottlieb didn’t stand down, though, and dug in on his take.
.@MariaTaylor no one questioned your work ethic.. but you are being asked to do the impossible by never saying no to an assignment. Covering a sport as a host isn’t covering it as an analyst, we both know this. Paul,JWill,JVG, Mark Jackson,Legs will all agree but it is unpopular https://t.co/oG4rrdpnrs
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) September 19, 2020
.@MariaTaylor these feelings are reserved to you or women. Hosts are there for opinions. Ernie, Kurt Menafee, James Brown are all great at what they do.. but they aren’t analysts paid for their opinions. https://t.co/oG4rrdpnrs
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) September 19, 2020
The exchange comes just a few days after had to defend herself after a radio host made sexist remarks about the outfit she wore during a Monday Night Football broadcast. The host, Dan McNeil, was later fired.
