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ESPN has announced that Malika Andrews will host the network's upcoming show, NBA Today. Each day, Andrews will lead a talented group of former NBA players, veteran reporters and special guests in discussions about the league's most exciting stories. Throughout the season, Andrews and her team will travel to the league's top events as well as the NBA Finals.
“NBA Today will provide in-depth, comprehensive daily coverage of all aspects of the NBA. Malika, who is a phenomenally talented commentator, will run point on a show that will feature a vibrant cast of expert analysts who all offer distinct perspectives on the game. Through the contributions of our wide array of NBA reporters, the show will be both newsy and timely with an eye towards the biggest games around the league that day," ESPN's Senior Vice President of NBA and Studio Production David Roberts said in a press statement.
Andrews joined ESPN just three years ago, covering the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks. She rose to national prominence in 2020 as she provided coverage from the NBA bubble. More recently, she stepped in as the sideline reporter during the 2021 NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. At the conclusion of the series, Andrews became the youngest broadcast journalist to lead an NBA Finals trophy presentation. At 26 years old, she is the youngest host of ESPN's daily NBA show.
“It’s an incredible time to cover the NBA – a league that is full of characters and stories that have resonance far beyond the sports world. Our goal every day is to deliver information and analysis to our viewers that can’t be gleaned anywhere else. I’m so excited to showcase the league and the talented reporters, analysts and insiders on our team," Andrews said.
Andrews' new show will replace ESPN's current daily NBA show, The Jump. It was hosted by Rachel Nichols, who has been moved to a new role following a public debacle that involved her insinuating that her former colleague received opportunities because of her race and not her talent.
The Jump will end on October 8 and NBA Today will debut on October 18 on ESPN2. New episodes will air every weekday at 3 p.m. ET.
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