Malika Andrews has been tapped to become the new host of the NBA Finals for ESPN, according to the New York Post.
The 28-year-old will replace Mike Greenberg, who held the position for the last two years. Greenberg came to a mutual agreement with the sports giant to leave NBA Countdown due to scheduling conflicts. He took the position after ESPN needed to maintain NBA Countdown following the public beef between Maria Taylor and Rachel Nichols in 2020.
Andrews accepting the position is part of a major overhaul of ESPN's NBA coverage. Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were both let go in June and were replaced by Doris Burke and Doc Rivers. Meanwhile, Andrews will continue her duties as the host of NBA Today.
During the NBA bubble in 2020, Andrews burst onto the scene as ESPN's on-site reporter in Orlando, Florida. Maria Taylor and Rachel Nichols leaving the network opened the door for Andrews to become the lead female NBA analyst.
She replaced Nichols as the NBA Finals sideline reporter and later took over her daily NBA show hosting duties with a new show called NBA Today following the cancellation of The Jump in wake of racially insensitive comments made by Nichols about Andrews that were caught on tape. Andrews now has Maria Taylor's old lead NBA Countdown job.
Andrews has hosted NBA Countdown in the past, but never for the primetime editions or the NBA Finals pregame show. Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon will still host the NBA primetime pre-show coverage, with a third member likely to be added. Adrian Wojnarowski is still the network's NBA insider, while Lisa Salters will continue her role as the lead sideline reporter during game broadcasts.
