Sage Steele says former NBA coach blasted her in…
Former ESPN broadcaster Sage Steele didn’t maintain back while discussing “passive aggressiveness from NBA coaches,” such as Doc Rivers and Steve Kerr, that she acquired when she voiced her conservative views and assist for President Donald Trump.
During an interview with “The Rubin Report,” Steele claimed Rivers despatched her “pages and pages of why I’m such an idiot to be a Republican or conservative and support Donald Trump” and unfollowed her on social media.
“Just knowing that so many of them are full of s–t with what they say versus what they do. And seeing the passive aggressiveness from some of these head coaches, whether it’s Steve Kerr or Doc Rivers — these people that I used to call a friend, especially Doc,” Steele said.
Sage Steele poses for pictures on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, September 24, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas. Getty Images
“… Out of the blue, he would ship me clips, and I’m like, ‘I just want to talk basketball with you’ or ‘How are your youngsters? You have grandkids now.
“And instead it’s, ‘I’m so disappointing in the sellout thing’ — with a coach. I think that again, that’s what turns people off with sports. It doesn’t mean you can’t have that opinion. I did too. I just happened to not do it when I was working in sports.”
Steele went onto speculate whether or not gamers with conservative views could be afraid to share them publicly, fearing they could face decreased enjoying time.
Inductee Doc Rivers speaks to the viewers during the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on Saturday, August 15, 2026, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Getty Images
“And so when they are saying these issues and they’re fairly uneducated about it and then they’re saying it to their guys too and their employees.
“So those players are put in very difficult positions because if they speak up to someone like a Doc Rivers or Steve Kerr, I dont know how he handles that in his locker room — but is that going to effect my playing time?’”
Steele — who was a former “SportsCenter” anchor with ESPN — explained that she doesn’t miss working at the community stage because of the political side of sports activities.
Inductee Doc Rivers walks onto the Red Carpet prior to the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on Saturday, August 15, 2026, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Getty Images
Steele left ESPN in August 2023 after both sides settled a lawsuit she filed following her being eliminated from the air in October 2021 for feedback she made about the company’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage.
“I have decided to leave so I can exercise my first amendment rights more freely,” Steele, who labored at ESPN since 2007, said at the time.
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