Former ESPN broadcaster Sage Steele says Hall of Fame NBA coach Doc Rivers ended personal contact with her after she supported President Donald Trump and expressed conservative views. Steele claims the dispute became apparent through messages she received and the way relationships changed in the NBA media space.
Steele describes what she characterizes as passive-aggressive behavior from NBA coaches after she voiced her political positions. In her account, Rivers specifically “turned on” her in what she portrays as a sharp break in personal relations, linked to her direct messages and the visibility of her support for Trump.
The outlets differ mainly in wording and emphasis. One outlet frames Steele’s comments as a direct, confrontational allegation, including reference to showing her DMs, while another reports the same core claim more generally: that Rivers stopped engaging with her over political differences. Both coverage centers on Steele’s allegations and her perspective on how political views affected her relationships with a prominent coach.
