Overview

• During the 2014 NBA Finals in Miami, Sage Steele said Skip Bayless warned her that Bill Simmons was working to remove her as anchor of NBA Countdown.
• Bayless recalled looping around Steele’s hotel and urging her to be vigilant as he shared reports of Simmons’ behind-the-scenes efforts.
• Steele described Simmons’ resistance to having a host and his push for a hostless, Inside-the-NBA style format that cast her as “the devil.”
• Simmons had recruited Jalen Rose to strengthen his influence before eventually leaving NBA Countdown and being fired by ESPN in 2015.
• The recent podcast episode has reignited scrutiny of ESPN’s editorial battles and shown how those conflicts led to Steele’s 2021 removal and 2023 departure.