Moving Ahead In The Action With . . . Malinda Adams
As more live sports return to ESPN platforms, meet some of the people working to deliver these events to fans
Front Row’s “Moving Ahead in the Action with…” series continues with the spotlight on veteran bureau producer Malinda Adams.
Adams, who joined ESPN in 2008, was among the first media members to arrive at the NBA’s Florida Campus at the Walt Disney World Resort in June. She’s played an integral role in ESPN’s coverage of the historic NBA Restart.
She has worked closely with Malika Andrews, who was ESPN’s first NBA reporter in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. In addition to Adams’ work with Andrews, she has also played a pivotal role in supporting The Jump host Rachel Nichols and the show’s crew. Adams has contributed content and news to virtually every ESPN platform covering the NBA Restart.
“Malinda’s extensive news background and commitment to getting a story right have been the difference-maker for our reporters on-site,” said Tim McHugh, ESPN senior coordinating producer. “There isn’t a single aspect of our production in Orlando that she hasn’t impacted and made better in the last few weeks.”
To provide a sense of just how hectic Adams’ days are at Disney, in the middle of this interview, she had to rush to New Orleans Pelicans’ practice to capture Zion Williamson’s return.
EDITOR’S NOTE: ESPN will provide comprehensive on-site game coverage of the historic NBA restart, including the production of 20 NBA Seeding Games and up to 44 NBA Playoffs games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. ESPN’s game coverage tips off on Friday, July 31, and will include eight game telecasts in three days through Sunday, Aug. 2. Visit ESPN PressRoom for more details.
BIO BLAST
Name: Malinda Adams
Hometown/Residence:: Birmingham, Ala., since March.
Role/Dept./Years at ESPN: Bureau producer since 2008.
Favorite Team: Auburn Tigers
Favorite Athlete: Bo Jackson
The thing I missed most about live sports was . . . I missed doing my job and working games. I love March Madness, and I was supposed to cover it, so I was so sad when it got canceled.
The ESPN game/studio personality I want to see back in action most is. . . I still miss Stuart Scott. Stuart and I worked together in local TV, so it was so fun when we got to work at ESPN together.
My favorite thing I watched on ESPN and ESPN+ since the middle of March was . . . “The Last Dance.” Wow!! It was amazing.
NBA reporter Malika Andrews says of Adams: “Malinda is the heartbeat of the journalism we are doing here. To say she’s the producer on this assignment doesn’t begin to cover what she does. Her tenacity, sharp eye, and commitment to sniffing out important storylines sets our coverage apart. We couldn’t get through the long days without her energy, plus she’s become quite the smoothie-making queen!”
As Andrews tells ESPN’s Outside The Lines host Ryan Smith in the video below, Andrews and Adams collaborated on a feature detailing the COVID-19 protocols she observed for when she entered the NBA’s Florida campus.
– Ben Cafardo
