Malika Andrews is one of the premier sports broadcasters today. As the host of “NBA Today” and “NBA Countdown,” Andrews has solidified herself as one of the trusted voices covering the league.

A native of Oakland, California, Andrews studied communications at the University of Portland; she was a sports writer, and editor-in-chief of The Beacon, the school newspaper.

After working as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, Andrews joined ESPN.com as a reporter covering the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and Brooklyn Nets. She would go on to make history as the youngest sideline reporter for a broadcast during the 2020 NBA Bubble and was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in the sports industry for 2021. The same year, Andrew was named host of “NBA Today.”

In 2022,  she became the first woman to host the NBA Draft.

Speaking with BET.com, Andrews shared some of the most intriguing storylines of the season that piqued her interest.

“I think it's been a great thing to give folks a tent pole date. During the NBA season, Christmas Day is the first big date that I look forward to. The NBA Cup has given folks that opportunity a little bit earlier in the year,” Andrews said. “We saw a team like the Indiana Pacers put themselves on the map early and make a run deep into the Eastern Conference Finals. I think that's another sort of beauty of this competition early on.”

“We're going to be in Vegas to do “Countdown” leading into both the semifinals and finals,” she continued. “I'm looking forward to that. It's really fun to see the fans who don't have a home team. Vegas doesn't have a team right now, but they can come and get to see these players live during the NBA Cup.”

One of the storylines of the season thus far that has caught Andrews’  attention is the emergence of the Milwaukee Bucks, and one of some of the surprise teams of the league.

“I'm enjoying seeing what the Milwaukee Bucks are able to do. I think they surprised a lot of people early on with how they struggled. I'm enjoying how they turned everything around. But I think one of the biggest surprises of the season is the Orlando Magic,” Andrews said. 

“Despite Paolo Banchero being injured,  Franz Wagner stepped up and they've been one of the best teams to watch. We'll see how his injury affects all of that. Everyone has been wondering in the Eastern Conference who can go toe-to-toe with the  Boston Celtics,” she continued. “I think it's been Orlando, and it's been the Cleveland Cavaliers.”

Before she could barely walk, Andrews said that winter sports and the outdoors were hallmarks of her family’s holiday traditions

“My dad was a ski patrolman before I was born and he’s done a whole bunch and he's an outdoorsman personal trainer. He’s been a skier all his life. So teaching us to ski was something that he always knew he wanted to do,” Andrews explained. “There’s a great photo of me that my parents have of me in a snowstorm and I'm two years old. There's no one else in sight and I’m on skis with my dad walking behind me. That has always been a big part of our Christmas tradition.”

When it comes to holiday music, Mariah Carey’s classic is her number one jam and karaoke favorite.

“I love “All I Want For Christmas,”  I can't hit the high notes but I attempt to,” she laughed.  “My husband  Dave McMenamin has a rule that as soon as the calendar flips to December, the only thing that plays in his car is Christmas carols and holiday music. So anytime I get in his car, he’s blasting holiday music every time.”

With her husband who works as a reporter for ESPN covering the Los Angeles Lakers and with her younger sister, Kendra Andrews, covering the Golden State Warriors for ESPN, sports talk is essential during the holidays.

“One of the languages of our family is sports. My grandfather goes to a lot of Golden State Warriors games.  He was a season ticket holder before they were in the Chase Center and before they were good. A lot of folks, when they go home, are not sure about what topic to avoid,” she said.

“I've been so lucky that my family all like to talk about sports together. We love to catch up on what's going on at work and how everything is going with family and personal stuff. But at some point in every dinner conversation, there is a heated, passionate, and informed debate about the NBA.”

“That’s coming from my sister,  my husband, but also from my dad and my mom. My mom always lets us know that she delayed the start of her wedding for a 49ers game.”

Because she has family all over the world, a Thanksgiving Day get-together, which is her favorite holiday, is the perfect way to bring in the holiday season.

“Thanksgiving is the big holiday for my side of the family. My grandfather is 86 and he still hosts Thanksgiving every year. His children, their children, and their significant others, all get together,” Andrews said. “My mother and aunt handle most of the cooking and that's something that I look forward to every year because my family lives in New Mexico, London, the Bay Area, and Los Angeles. We've been doing that since I was a little kid. Even if I go home now for 36 hours, it's something that I treasure to be with them. So Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year with my family.” 

Because of her demanding schedule, Andrews is working on Christmas which is one the most-watched days of the NBA’s calendar. But that doesn't stop her and her family from being creative as they celebrate the holidays together.

“On the Christmas holiday itself, we’ll be in the studio from 7 am to 10 pm. With my in-laws, we do what's called “McMenaminis”, a play on their last name. On a mutually agreed upon Saturday in December, we all get together for a Secret Santa, food, and a gift exchange. We had it this past Saturday.” 

“Sometimes, you get to forge your own traditions, and that's what we've done. While I'm in the studio that day, my cousin I grew up skiing with, is coming down to watch the games with me,” she continued. “Although it looks a little bit different now,  I think that that's part of life, right? It's adapting, adjusting, and building new traditions. Now, I'm the one who makes the latkes because I am Jewish, and so we celebrate Hanukkah as well.”