Fired Braiden Bell asks Blazers to reconsider

by KATU Staff Mon, October 5, 2026 at 10:16 PM Braiden Bell. (Courtesy: Portland Trail Blazers) Braiden Bell, who spent about eight hours last week as the Trail Blazers play-by-play voice, is asking to be reconsidered by the team. Bell's legal counsel, Arnie Herz, has requested the Trail Blazers to reconsider him as a candidate. Bell was hired and dismissed by the Blazers on the same day after controversial social media remarks were discovered. RELATED: Fired Trail Blazers play-by-play broadcaster apologizes for racist, misogynistic tweets In a statement released Monday Herz said: “Braiden is not asking anyone to excuse what he wrote. He has owned it, without excuses ... Accountability means owning what you did and showing who you have become. Braiden has done both.” According to Herz, the Blazers have informed them that they are not reinstating him and are not paying him any money. The 29-year-old Bell has been a broadcaster for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the G-League's Valley Suns in recent years. The Blazers sent out a statement regarding Bell's reinstatement saying, "We stand by our statement issued last week and have no further comment at this time. We wish Mr. Bell the best."