I looked up dude what has he done that’s racist. How would Lebron know how dude is behind closed doors. I’m trying to understand how this is Lebron’s fault right. I think it’s naive to think Lebron or other black people don’t have to rub elbows with white people like this Dude or Rachel Nichols. It’s common practice I don’t get where the disconnect.
Who is Adam Mendelsohn? LeBron James' spokesman caught in ESPN drama
Eve Edwards5 hours ago
Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images
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ESPN are in the midst of an internal firestorm, as
leaked recordings of Rachel Nichols talking about fellow sports presenter Maria Taylor cast a gloomy spell over the network.
The leaked conversation about Maria Taylor was between Rachel Nichols and LeBron James’ spokesman, Adam Mendelsohn.
While Mendelsohn is more used to working behind-the-scenes with the press, he has now been flung into the public eye, as the leaked recording goes viral online.
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Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Who is Adam Mendelsohn?
Adam Mendelsohn is currently working as an advisor and spokesman for NBA legend LeBron James.
Mendelsohn worked with strategy firm Mercury LLC when he was hired by James. According to their website, they specialise “in brand, crisis, and media strategy” for Fortune 50 companies, CEOs, celebrities, and even athletes.
Adam Mendelsohn joined LeBron James’ team in 2010 as his publicist. He was hired to turnaround James’ public image, which had been in tatters after he decided to move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to Miami Heat.
Prior to his career in sports, Mendelsohn served as former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s deputy chief of staff.
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Adam Mendelsohn and LeBron James
Adam Mendelsohn works alongside Maverick Carter as an advisor to LeBron James.
Helping athletes leverage their power into political action is important to Mendelsohn and he has been helping James shift in this direction, as well as reform his public image. This shift in direction comes as no surprise given Mendelsohn’s background.
“Athletes are as qualified, and often more qualified, to engage in politics and activism than a CEO,” Mendelsohn said. “Why does a business leader with narrow life experience get to question the problems in our country but a cultural leader who faced incredible adversity does not?”
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Adam gets tangled in the ESPN drama
Many basketball fans would have not heard of Adam Mendelsohn before the leaked recording, but now it seems he has the whole NBA fandom’s eyes on him.
The conversation between Adam Mendelsohn and Rachel Nichols took place on 13 July 2020. In the phone conversation, Nichols discusses her career trajectory and her true feelingsabout Maria Taylor landing the job to host 2020 NBA finals coverage.
Although Nichols, Taylor and ESPN were at the heart of the discussion, some of the comments made by Mendelsohn have not gone down well with those who heard them. One Twitter user suggested that Mendelsohn should be dropped by LeBron James over the phone call.