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In the 39-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand talks with ESPN lead NBA host Malika Andrews. Here are the topics and what you need to know:

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* Malika did not have her sights set on TV

* Can Malika play hoops

* How Adrian Wojnarowski discovered Malika

* Malika was shocked Woj knew who she was

* Malika says she was confident, but naive when she started her career

* How an internship at the New York Times was important

* She wanted to be a certain New York Times writer (she names him)

* Her minimal on-air experience before being on ESPN

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* How, at 24, the 2020 NBA Covid bubble was her first big break

* Malika was very nervous about the assignment

* By 2021, she was on the NBA Finals sideline reporter after the Maria Taylor-Rachel Nichols brouhaha

* How she practiced the NBA Finals trophy presentation with her then boyfriend, now husband, ESPN reporter, Dave McMenamin

* How, during COVID, she went to Woj’s family’s home for Thanksgiving and learned the dedication of an insider

* Was she surprised by Woj’s retirement

* How having information is better than a take

* What she thinks about Charles Barkley and Inside The NBA joining ESPN next year in which it is expected to be the Finals’ pregame

* What’s next for Malika …

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* Adam Schefter

* Ramona Shelburne

* Peter King

* Bomani Jones

On Tuesday, May 6th, NBC Sports President Rick Cordella will be the guest for the second OTR in midtown Manhattan. Click here or the above image to request a spot.

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