‘MAMBA MENTALITY’ Malika Andrews marries ESPN’s Lakers reporter as fans spot special meaning of their wedding date with nod to NBA legend

Andrews joined NBA Today in 2021 and has since become one of the network’s rising stars

ESPN star Malika Andrews has tied the knot in a lavish West Coast ceremony.

The NBA Today host wed colleague and fellow sports reporter Dave McMenamin in San Francisco on August 24.

Sports TV anchor Malika Andrews presenting NBA Countdown on ESPN

Sports TV anchor Malika Andrews presenting NBA Countdown on ESPNCredit: Getty

Malika's new husband Dave McMenamin working for ESPN at a Los Angeles Lakers game

Malika’s new husband Dave McMenamin working for ESPN at a Los Angeles Lakers gameCredit: Getty
Andrews and McMenamin first met in 2017 after both were assigned to cover a New York Knicks game.

The pair have been dating for several years with Dave popping the question in 2022.

“We were engaged for 21 months, so we had plenty of time to plan!” McMenamin told Vogue following the ceremony.

“Getting married in the Bay Area, where I am from, was important to me,” Andrews, 29, added.

McMenamin covers the Los Angeles Lakers for ESPN, with the date of the wedding a day of special significance to the franchise.

August 24 is Kobe Bryant Day, a day set aside by the Lakers to celebrate the life of their former superstar guard.

Bryant spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Lakers, winning five titles.

He was killed in January 2020 along with his daughter Gianna, 13, in a tragic helicopter crash.

McMenamin paid tribute to the iconic Black Mamba by wearing Mambacita Nikes during his special day.

“Dave McMenamin got that Mamba Mentality in him. Respect,” one NBA fan wrote on X.

‘Everybody good?’ Malika Andrews asks ESPN colleagues on live TV after earthquake rocks NBA Today studio in Los Angeles
“Dave, I was not familiar with your game. Congrats to them!” said another.

Andrews stunned in a gorgeous white lace gown, featuring a four-foot-long train.

The ceremony and reception featured several more nods to the couple’s roles at ESPN.

There was a fully functional basketball hoop for guests to enjoy ahead of the wedding breakfast, while the seating chart was designed like an NBA tournament bracket, per FadeAwayWorld.

Highest contracts in NBA history

Jayson Tatum

      , Celtics – 5 years, $314 million

Jaylen Brown

      , Celtics – 5 years, $285.4 million

Nikola Jokic

      , Nuggets – 5 years, $276.1 million

Bradley Beal

      , Suns – 5 years, $251 million (signed with Washington)

Anthony Edwards

      , Timberwolves – 5 years, $244.6 million

Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers – 5 years, $244.6 million

Per Spotrac

“It was such a joy to be surrounded by our family and friends,” Andrews wrote on Instagram.

“I am loving reliving the night by swapping stories with Dave and our guests, and looking back through photos.

“I am so looking forward to settling into our marriage.”

Andrews grew up a fan of the Golden State Warriors and joined ESPN in October 2018 as an online NBA writer.

She has since risen to become one of the network’s most hard-working anchors, fronting NBA Today and NBA Countdown since 2021.

Earlier this month, Malika kept her composure as an earthquake hit during a live broadcast.

The 29-year-old was in the middle of an interview when tremors rocked the studio in Los Angeles.

“Definitely a scary moment here in our LA studios. Thank you to our incredible staff and crew who stayed cool throughout! Stay safe, fellow Angelenos,” she wrote on X following the incident.

Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Lakers

Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the LakersCredit: Getty

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