ESPN Malika Andrews Thrives in Spontaneous Moments

[{"selector":"#anim-4354b1f0-5965-4aac-a002-6d5d3318b8d6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.4456519156949135%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] This month we spoke with sports journalist and host of ESPN's NBA Today, Malika Andrews.

[{"selector":"#anim-86fd9227-73c9-484b-a967-b43eb1297598 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] If you're a basketball fan, you may have seen Andrews hosting his weekday show, reporting from the sidelines, or on SportsCenter over the years.

[{"selector":"#anim-064c0f6e-7fad-46e6-9d8e-d1175372a161 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19.60799729669082%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Before turning 30, she has already achieved some major milestones: During the 2019-2020 season, she became one of the youngest sideline reporters to cover a conference finals telecast

[{"selector":"#anim-efcbb378-d589-4da7-be23-7106a7b39e39 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.445651915694919%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] She became the first woman to host the NBA Draft. The Oakland native was a fellow on the sports desk at The New York Times and a reporter for the Chicago Tribune before landing at ESPN in 2018.

[{"selector":"#anim-46648ff9-8e1d-4eaf-a909-f8170bc1c6d5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(22.858865939048094%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] She's sat down with stars from Steph Curry to Giannis Antetokounmpo. She has also covered major cultural news such as the arrest and return to the US of Brittany Griner and NCAA champion Angel Reese

My first job -I was a hostess at IHOP.

[{"selector":"#anim-f2bea1e4-2e39-49c7-9d4c-5c84c875ce0f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-81d6f44b-d30d-4433-92cc-ad98d811ad4e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-10.210040742162633%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] My worst job -Probably that. Or, I cleaned horse poop out of stalls for a summer. That was not great.

[{"selector":"#anim-d86ad6d6-0a5c-434e-b22b-6f8e2a4a3d90 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-19.607997296690826%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] When I realized I didn’t want a desk job- I worked at my grandfather’s law firm as a secretary when I was younger, and it was fascinating, and the work that he does as a civil rights attorney was so awesome and so cool.