Malika Andrews

Malika Andrews – Life, Career, and Memorable Insights

Learn about Malika Andrews (born January 27, 1995): her journey from Oakland to ESPN, her groundbreaking work in NBA journalism, personal challenges, quotes, and lessons from her rise.

Introduction

Malika Rose Andrews is an American sports journalist, broadcaster, and reporter known for her role covering the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born January 27, 1995, she has become one of the youngest—and among the most prominent—voices in sports media, particularly in the basketball world. As host of NBA Today and a leading figure at ESPN, her trajectory offers insight into perseverance, voice, and breaking barriers in sports journalism.

Early Life and Family

Malika Andrews was born in Oakland, California on January 27, 1995. Mike Andrews, a personal trainer, and Caren Andrews, an art teacher.

She has a younger sister, Kendra Andrews, who also works in sports journalism.

On her maternal (mother’s) side, she has Jewish heritage and even had a bat mitzvah in 2008.

During middle school, she encountered academic and emotional challenges: she was expelled from the Head-Royce School in eighth grade. year-round therapeutic boarding school in Utah, where she graduated at age 17 (in 2012).

Education and Formative Years

After finishing high school, Andrews spent a year working at her maternal grandfather’s civil rights law firm. This experience likely grounded her in social justice and communication before she formally entered journalism.

She then enrolled at the University of Portland, majoring in communications (or a related field). The Beacon, where she eventually served as sports editor and then editor-in-chief.

One notable story she covered during that time involved an athlete who had suffered a brain bleed after crashing into a wall. Her reporting led the school to install padding to prevent future incidents.

She graduated in 2017.

Career and Achievements

Beginnings and Entry into Sports Journalism

• In 2017, Andrews introduced herself at an NBA Summer League event to Adrian Wojnarowski (a major NBA reporter), who had seen her work at The Beacon.

• She held internships and early stints including one with The Denver Post and a James Reston Reporting Fellowship in the sports department of The New York Times.

• She also worked as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune before joining ESPN.

In October 2018, she joined ESPN as an online NBA writer.

On-Air Roles & Milestones

• In 2020, during the NBA season’s “bubble” in Orlando, Andrews became one of the youngest sideline reporters to cover games, entering the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

• In 2021, she was nominated for an Emmy in the Emerging On-Air Talent category.

• That same year, she was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in the sports industry.

• On July 6, 2021, ESPN appointed her as a sideline reporter for the NBA Finals, replacing Rachel Nichols.

• In May 2022, she won a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Personality / Emerging On-Air Talent.

• On June 23, 2022, she made history by becoming the first woman to host the NBA Draft.

She is also the host of NBA Today, which replaced ESPN’s The Jump. SportsCenter, Get Up, NBA Countdown, and Around the Horn.

Historical & Contextual Significance

Malika Andrews represents a newer generation of sports journalists who bridge the old guard and digitally native storytelling. She entered the field when social media, real-time reporting, and multimedia presence are integral to journalistic impact. Her ascent in a field historically dominated by men, especially in NBA coverage, marks a cultural shift in sports media.

Her reporting during the COVID-era NBA bubble placed her in situations requiring adaptability, safety awareness, and technical agility—skills not always emphasized in traditional sports journalism.

Her appointment to broadcast major NBA events (Finals, draft) signals ESPN’s shift to fresh voices and diversity in representation.

Personality, Style & Values

Although not much is publicly shared about all her personal traits, some patterns and values are discernible from her work and public statements:

• Courage & initiative: She proactively introduced herself to major media figures (e.g. Wojnarowski), taking bold steps early in her career.

• Voice & perspective: She brings background, context, and narrative to her coverage, rather than merely reporting scores.

• Commitment to equity & representation: Her position as ESPN’s only Black female NBA reporter (for a time) indicates that she carries representation responsibility.

• Calm under pressure: Covering live events, especially high-stakes NBA finals, demands poise and adaptability.

Memorable Quotes

While Andrews does not have a large catalog of widely cited quotations yet, some remarks and remarks about her work are noted in the press:

• One New York Post piece referred to her courtside fashion as “garden-party-chic,” especially her “flowing floral feminine frocks.”

• She is often lauded (in articles) for her measured, insightful questions and ability to handle challenging interviews with clarity and respect.

As her public presence continues to grow, more direct quotes from her talks, panels, or features will likely become well-known.

Lessons from Malika Andrews’ Journey

1. Initiative matters. Andrews didn’t wait for opportunity—she introduced herself to influencers and carved her path forward.

2. Diverse experience builds depth. Her mix of writing, reporting, editorial work, and internship exposure created a versatile foundation.

3. Barriers can become platforms. As a woman of color in NBA journalism, her presence both challenges norms and provides representation.

4. Resilience in adversity. Overcoming early academic and emotional challenges reveals inner strength that can translate into professional confidence.

5. Respect the small to reach large. Her ascent from student newspaper to national broadcast underscores that foundational work matters.

Conclusion

Malika Andrews is a rising star in sports journalism—a record-breaker, storyteller, and role model. Though still early in her professional life, her accomplishments speak to boldness, craft, and purpose. As she continues to shape basketball coverage and media representation, her influence is likely to grow.