Many Question Mailka Andrews & Bob Myers’ ESPN Role During NBA Finals Broadcast

Game 2 of the NBA Finals wasn’t just about basketball—it turned into a broadcast disaster for ESPN’s NBA Countdown. As tornado warnings hit Oklahoma City, ESPN shifted much of its production to remote locations. But that didn’t explain the on-air chaos fans were met with before tipoff.

Malika Andrews and Bob Myers, two key faces of ESPN’s revamped NBA coverage, were barely noticeable amid a barrage of shouting from Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins. Fans weren’t having it. “NBA pregame is f—— unwatchable. Disgrace,” one viewer raged. Another added, “Even my wife is like… who are these screaming idi—?”

The sentiment was loud and clear—many viewers felt that ESPN’s Finals pregame lacked actual basketball insight. “No analysis, just yelling,” one post read. Another user took it further: “Stephen A is overexposed. Kendrick Perkins has no brains and no personality. The former front office guy [Myers] looks like he’s wearing a wig, and the traffic cop is low energy.”

ESPN’s pregame show for the NBA Finals blows.

Stephen A is over exposed. Kendrick Perkins has no brains and no personality. The former front office guy looks like he’s wearing a wig, and the traffic cop is low energy.

Total abomination compared to TNT’s pregame.

— Nick Kayal (@NickKayal) June 8, 2025

Malika, the show’s lead host, appeared visibly sidelined during much of the segment. Bob Myers, brought in for his front office expertise, had almost no room to speak. In contrast to the structured, insightful tone of TNT’s Inside the NBA, ESPN’s offering felt off-balance and overproduced.

If Game 2’s pregame was any indication, ESPN may need a serious rethink heading into Game 3—not just about the set, but about letting its most qualified voices actually speak.

(This is a building story…)

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