Malika Andrews to Replace Rachel Nichols on ESPN’s NBA Coverage

By Tadi Abedje Published: September 20, 2021

Malika Andrews to Replace Rachel Nichols on ESPN’s NBA Coverage

ESPN's Malika Andrews is being praised for her performance during the NBA finals. (Photo: AP via Wibbitz)

In Summary

She will be hosting a new show beginning on Oct. 18.

ESPN is continuing to make changes to its sports programming as they will be introducing a new show called NBA Today on Oct. 18.

NBA reporter Malika Andrews will be the host of the show and will be joined by former NBA players Vince Carter and Kendrick Perkins, WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike, writers Zach Lowe and Ramona Shelburne and NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

The show will air on weekdays at 3 p.m. EST on ESPN and will be about what’s going on in the NBA, covering topics such as games, breaking news, trades and free agency.

It will be similar to The Jump, a show that was hosted by Rachel Nichols before she got removed from NBA coverage due to her controversy regarding Maria Taylor.

“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,” ESPN Senior Vice President David Roberts said in a press release. “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.”

For Andrews, this is another big step in her young reporting career at ESPN, which began before the 2018-19 NBA season.

“Our goal every day is to deliver information and analysis to our viewers that can’t be gleaned anywhere else,” she said in a press release. “I’m so excited to showcase the league and the talented reporters, analysts and insiders on our team.”