Malia Taylor Reflects on Transition from ESPN to NBC Sports

Malia Taylor has retained evidence of her journey after departing from ESPN for NBC Sports in 2021.

On a recent episode of Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, “7pm in Brooklyn,” she delved into her career evolution, touching on the difficult split from ESPN, where she was employed from 2013 to 2021.

“The last thing someone said to me at my last job was, ‘You’ll never be on TV again,'” Taylor, now 38, mentioned as she hosts “NBA on NBC.”

Carmelo Anthony, who recently joined NBC Sports as an NBA analyst, noted, “She’s everywhere now,” referring to his new colleague.

Interestingly, Taylor didn’t go into detail about that particular remark or identify who had said it.

Her exit from ESPN was anything but smooth, especially following an incident where Rachel Nichols, a former coworker, made disparaging comments about Taylor’s diversity in leaked audio from July 2021.

Taylor made her move to NBC Sports shortly after her contract with ESPN expired that same month.

Reflecting on her experiences, she said, “After something like that, you definitely need to heal.” It was a tough time, very traumatic for her. But now, on the other side, she realizes, “Sometimes you need to walk through fire.”

She added, “I feel so much better—more relaxed, more free, more confident in everything I do. That’s exactly what I want for my role in the launch of ‘NBA on NBC.’”

“It feels like I’m fulfilling my purpose. This is what it’s meant to be. I even want to make it to Sunday Night Football,” she expressed, highlighting the absence of female hosts in that area and her wish to change that.

As Taylor steps into her role, she is the lead host for NBC Sports’ “NBA on NBC” this season. Additionally, she is in her fourth season hosting NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” and notably, she is the first full-time woman to take on the role as host for “Football Night in America.”