Since its launch in October of 2021, ESPN’s NBA Today has cemented itself as the year-round weekday NBA and WNBA show of record for basketball fans. Highlighted by in-depth reporting, a diverse array of voices, compelling storytelling, and plenty of laughs, NBA Today has continued to expand its reach with the show posting several of its most-watched months ever in 2026.
With the fifth anniversary celebration underway, Hilary Guy, Vice President, Sports Production, reflected on five memorable years as the production helm of NBA Today.
What do you remember most about the first NBA Today show in 2021?
I remember Lawrence Tanter, the beloved voice of the Los Angeles Lakers who just recently passed, welcoming each one of our talent into the studio at the top of the show. We wanted to make the moment feel big, and how much bigger can you get than Lawrence’s wonderful, bellowing voice?! And then everything for the rest of the hour was a blur. After the show was over, everyone ran into the studio for a team photo.
From NBA Today host Malika Andrews:
“I remember the logistics because I’m a logistics person. I remember so deeply wanting to get it right and feeling a responsibility to be and do right on the very first day, so we got off on the right foot. That meant obsessing over every decision as to what went into the show. I remember I had my hair braided so I didn’t have to think about anything other than the content of the show.”
How has the content strategy evolved since the show launched?
NBA Today‘s focus on news and covering the top storylines around the entire league remains the same, but we have become more nimble in how we cover the news and get to every story. This year we have a renewed priority to weave-in as many reporters as we can to set the tone for our discussions. Our studio also changed this year, so we are in the process of evolving how to tell stories in our new monitors and with different studio moves.
What are you most proud of at the five-year mark?
The people. Everyone who works on this show should feel so proud of what we have accomplished in five years; showing up, covering basketball — both men’s and women’s — year-round. Through it all, we have celebrated wins and losses as a team, our talent have excelled well beyond the show, and above all, every day we support one another as our team strives for excellence. Everyone has ownership in what we produce each day — NBA Today has succeeded because of the people working on it.