From the Florida bubble to NBA Today, Malika Andrews has been everywhere this league lives. Remember that 2020 playoff stretch when fans couldn’t stop watching courtside updates? That was her, breaking through as ESPN’s youngest NBA sideline reporter. Now, as she heads into her fifth year hosting NBA Today, Andrews is locked in for the long haul.
On Instagram, Andrews gave fans a behind-the-scenes peek at her signature “alright everybody” moments, captioning it: “Time really flies when you’re having fun with the best people. I cannot believe we’re going into Year 5️⃣ of NBA Today! So excited to continue to spend our afternoons talking hoops with you 💕” Which she later added to her story, with a few very telling words.
“Can’t wait to share more, but so excited to continue to be a part of the ESPN/Disney family🧡,” she wrote. ESPN confirmed the move with a multi-year extension, keeping the Sports Emmy winner front and center across NBA Today, NBA Countdown, the NBA Draft, and WNBA coverage. She’ll also take on more sideline reporting duties, continuing the path she carved starting in 2018 after covering the Bulls and other regional teams.
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Malika Andrews’ rise has been meteoric, from first woman to host the NBA Draft in 2022, NBA Countdown host in 2023, and Emmy winner at just the age of 30. With Molly Qerim’s exit after a decade working for First Take since 2015, ESPN faces a replacement search, but Andrews remains the anchor fans already trust, her voice synonymous with hoops insights.
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What happens next, though? Well, come back here to find out!