Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Feb 24, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; A general view of the Portland Trail Blazers logo at half-court before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center.
Former Portland Trail Blazers play-by-play announcer Braiden Bell has hired an attorney in an attempt to get his job back after being fired over social media posts he made in high school.
Bell, 29, lost his job with the team less than 24 hours after being hired when a local news station uncovered posts on X that were deemed both misogynistic and racist.
At the time of the posts, in which Bell said he was “not racist” but “Asian people piss me off,” and made number of misogynistic statements, including a pair that shouted out “big girls” and “closet wh-res,” Bell would have been around 14 or 15 years old.
“The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful comments,” the team said in a social media statement announcing Bell’s dismissal. “Social media posts made by our recently announced play-by-play broadcaster are in clear violation of team and league policies, as well as our values and expectations. Therefore, we will not be moving forward with this broadcaster.”
But Bell’s attorney, Arnie Herz, says his age at the time of the posts should not be ignored.
Ex-Blazers Announcer Seeks Reinstatement With Age-Based Defense
“Braiden is not asking anyone to excuse what he wrote,” Herz wrote in a press release on Monday night. “He has owned it, without excuses. What he is asking is whether a boy’s words from fourteen years ago should outweigh everything the man has done since. If that is the standard, there is hardly a person in any organization in America who could meet it. Accountability means owning what you did and showing who you have become. Braiden has done both.”
Notably, Herz also represented Jacob Tobey, the San Antonio Spurs announcer who was fired after allegedly cheating on his girlfriend with the sister of a player on the team. Tobey was recently reinstated by the team.
Ultimately, Herz believes Bell was held to an unreasonable standard.
“Zero tolerance sounds strong, but applied to childhood it becomes a standard no one can meet and no one actually believes in,” Herz said. “The NBA has led on social issues before. It can lead here, from moral absolutism toward a culture of accountability, compassion and understanding.”
But it doesn’t sound as if the Blazers plan to reverse course.
“We stand by our statement issued last week and have no further comment at this time,” the team told Front Office Sports. “We wish Mr. Bell the best.”