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Malika Andrews Responds To Idea She's Biased Against Black NBA Players

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Dec 17, 2024 5:45 PM ET

ESPN host Malika Andrews has become a force to be reckoned with over the past few years, but that doesn't mean it's been smooth sailing.

Andrews worked for the Chicago Tribune before joining ESPN in October 2018. It didn't take very long for her to become a key contributor for the Worldwide Leader In Sports. After serving as a sideline reporter for roughly two years, she was named the host of "NBA Today," a daily show that highlights the top stories in basketball. It's a title she still holds to this day.

Unfortunately for Andrews, her success hasn't come without criticism. Some NBA fans have accused her of being biased against Black players. During an appearance on DeMar DeRozan's show, she talked about that "untrue" and "unkind" narrative.

"The hardest thing for me, sometimes, is stomaching the falsehoods, particularly this [idea that I] hate Black men," Andrews told DeRozan. "That couldn’t be further from the truth."

In just the past few years alone, Andrews had a heated conversation with Stephen A. Smith about sensitive topics, like Ime Udoka's fallout in Boston. She was also ripped by former NFL star Dez Bryant for how she handled a shooting involving Charlotte Hornets swingman Brandon Miller. Those are just some examples that people have used to create this anti-Black narrative about her.

Later in her discussion on "Dinners with DeMar," Andrews shared her mindset when covering athletes and their stories.

“I try very hard to make it so that the things that I’ve experienced — I try to keep [them] in mind when I’m talking about players,” Andrews continued, via the New York Post. “I try to have that empathy … I have a job to do [but] I’m not here to play ‘gotcha.’ That doesn’t mean that I’ve covered every story perfectly, it doesn’t mean that I don’t make mistakes. But, I think I’m pretty good at saying to you guys, ‘I could have been better there.' I hope we can keep … that kindness and that humanity that, I worry, sometimes, we’re losing."

Hopefully, this interview with DeRozan will open people's eyes and realize that Andrews is simply doing her job.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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