As sports fans turn their focus from football to basketball in the wake of Super Bowl LIV, so does ESPN’s Maria Taylor, who has tipped off her first season as host of “NBA Countdown.”
The “College GameDay” and “ABC Saturday Night Football” reporter recently transitioned from the gridiron to the court, and will now be a regular teammate to analysts Jalen Rose and Jay Williams on ESPN’s flagship NBA show for the rest of the season. Moving forward, “NBA Countdown” will also have a “newsier” slant with the addition of reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, according to ESPN.
Taylor fills the host seat that was previously occupied by “SportsCenter” host Sage Steele and most recently, Michelle Beadle. She has already earned high praise from former ESPN analyst Bill Simmons on how she handled the first show following Kobe Bryant’s sudden death. Taylor “did a superb job navigating an emotional, complicated pregame show … she played point guard + made it work,” The Ringer founder tweeted on Feb. 1.
While she is best known for her college football expertise having joined ESPN as a sideline reporter in 2013, Taylor says she has always loved the NBA. “I grew up in Chicago and during the height of the ’90s Bulls era,” she told TheWrap.
But Taylor is well aware that she has taken on a whole new challenge in the transition from football to basketball, and she is not taking it lightly. “For me, it also like learning a totally different subject — this is biology and not calculus,” she explained. “They are different sports with different people, teams, front office executives who you need to talk to.”
“This is a standalone show for an hour where we are just talking about the NBA so I am getting my hosting chops again compared to reporting on ‘College GameDay.’ There is pressure in both of them — I am more of a conductor for the NBA and an informer for college football.”
“NBA Countdown” airs Fridays on ESPN before NBA doubleheaders, and will begin to air Sundays on ABC before the NBA “Sunday Showcase” game.
Read the full Q&A with Taylor below. (Editorial note, this interview was conducted prior to Kobe Bryant’s death on Jan. 26).
TheWrap: How did the new role come about? Maria Taylor: I covered the women’s college basketball tournament the last three years, hosting from the selection to the Final Four. Then I started working on the NBA draft, reporting and doing the interviews after the guys got drafted (that was my first induction into the NBA), and I covered the NBA combine for the last two summers. After that, I went to the ESPN bosses and made it clear that if anything ever came up in the NBA then I would love to be involved in it.
You started on “NBA Countdown” in the midst of the college football season, how did you manage both? It’s definitely been a lot of juggling! The Heisman Trophy ceremony (on Dec. 14) was one of my busiest weekends as we had “NBA Countdown” and were still doing “College GameDay,” but all in all my bosses have all worked well together as they know my schedule before I do.
Viewers have seen a lot of changes in hosts, analysts and even studio location at “NBA Countdown” over the years, how are you going to make this iteration sustainable?
The biggest factor is chemistry. We are hoping to entertain, we are hoping to inform, and we are hoping that it feels like you are walking into a living room and are hearing from some of your favorite basketball analysts about the game you love. That is the tone I want to help set and I think that is the goal we all have with one another.
I worked with Jalen on “Get Up,” he is a veteran and he has been there through all the changes. He knows what it takes to make a good show great, and also knows if there is something wrong how we can fix it. He is the foundation of the entire show. Jalen is an entertainer but is also so smart and knowledgable.
The goal is trying to find what is the best match for the league. I feel like we’ve always had great people in place, I don’t think it’s ever been a question of that. At the end of the day, it is what everyone wants and feels is best. We certainly hope for longevity and that this is the beginning of a long relationship and the start of an “NBA Countdown” family.
What was the best advice you’ve gotten going into this?
Everyone was so great and said “congratulations and go crush it.” They have all told me the same thing: the NBA audience is so honed in that they can spot a fraud. It’s almost like, “you had better know your stuff!” That is going to be a key for me and I appreciate the straight-up honesty.
I’ve always said all I can do is be me. The best advice I have ever gotten is from Robin Roberts, who said that genuinely being you in person will translate on camera. If you are not genuine, then the viewers won’t like you … they may not even know why they don’t like you, but it’ll because you aren’t being genuine. I think I am a lighthearted host, but I don’t know if I am the most technically sound host out there! I love to engage in conversation, I am a good listener, I like to follow up, I want to be thoroughly engaged with the show and just throw myself into it.
What different edge do you plan to bring to the show moving forward?
We hope to do a total breakdown on “Countdown” and bring you more than just game stats and players’ information, but let you get to know them as people as well. For example, we worked on a spotlight on Tobias Harris about his grandfather being a Tuskegee Airman. We all know Tobias Harris as a great shooter for the 76ers, but let’s put him as a human being in context. That is what we hope to do more on “Countdown” when we say we want to entertain, inform and turn viewers into fans of people, not just players.
My goal is to find those kinds of stories. We do a great job of that on “College GameDay” and I hope this to be similar … we are going to tell you a story that you didn’t know about the player that you love. That is the biggest thing I would like to bring from one project to the other.
When it comes to the action on the court, what do you think are the storylines to watch for the rest of the season? The most exciting thing is going to be crash course in the west that we’re seeing between the Lakers and the Clippers, who’ll inevitably run into each other at some point during the playoffs. The Lakers have been historically a dynasty and are now trying to rise back up to that rank with all their super star power in the Staples Center. It’d be great to see them duking it out against Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
The other big question is that literally somebody has to step up to be the beast in the east, and we don’t know who that is going to be yet. Technically, it is the Bucks but when it came to the playoffs last year, they didn’t meet those expectations … there are still a lot of questions surrounding them.
Super Bowl LIV: The Party Scene From Miami (Photos)
The Kansas City Chiefs were no doubt still partying well into Monday morning after their fourth quarter thriller in Hard Rock Stadium. But long before they took down the San Francisco 49ers, the top names in entertainment and sports hit the party scene in Miami.
The biggest weekend in sports began with tributes to one of the greatest athletes of all time. On Thursday night, DJ Irie, Jamie Foxx and Charles Woodson made an emotional toast to the late Kobe Bryant at the Culinary Kickoff party presented by Intercept Wine.
Jamie Foxx raised a glass in memory of the Black Mamba as he DJed at the fundraising event benefiting the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to fund culinary students and other local charities.
No one represents football in Miami more than Dolphins veteran QB Dan Marino. And not clothing brand represents the party scene more than Zubaz, so it was natural that the two icons united for a special activation with sports lifestyle brand ’47 ahead of Super Bowl LIV, in celebration of '47's headwear collaboration with Zubaz.
47 Clothing
Zubaz, the iconic zebra print from that Marino rocked in the '90s has since been revived by the NFL's modern day party MVP, Rob Gronkowski. Fans got to customize their ’47 gear ahead of the big game in Miami, and some even wore them to Saturday's Gronk Beach Party.
47 Clothing
Following one of the toughest weeks of his life in the wake of Kobe Bryant's death, Shaquille O'Neal still managed to bring his giant-sized personality to Shaq's Fun House on Friday night. The NBA legend also threw the biggest tribute of the weekend to his former teammate. As Bryant's No. 24 jersey floated on stage, Shaq played a video montage of their many special moments together. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Foundation and all victims of the recent tragedy.
Pitbull also paid his respects by starting a "Kobe" chant to kick off his set at Shaq's Fun House. Next up, P. Diddy took to the stage and dedicated “I’ll Be Missing You" to Bryant.
Rob Gronkowski and Miami are a match made in party heaven, and the funnest guy in football pulled out all the stops for his inaugural Gronk Beach Party on Saturday afternoon. The beach bash of the century featured performances by Rick Ross, Diplo, Kaskade, Flo Rida and Carnage, as the three-time Super Bowl champion lit up the stage with a little help from his brothers, dad (a.k.a. Papa Gronk) and 69 of his closest friends.
Who says Bill Belichick doesn't know how to have fun? The Patriots coach took advantage of not having to work on Super Bowl weekend by getting down with his former tight end at Gronk Beach. The pair were joined by WWE chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon (who is a diehard Patriots fan), Triple H, Mojo Rawley and Sports Illustrated model, Camille Kostek.
Music producer and EDM DJ 3Lau (real name Justin Blau) clearly had a blast supporting his good friend and party partner Gronk as he played a killer set during the beach fest.
Gronk wasn't gonna let a little storm rain on his parade. The big fella took advantage of not having to play in Sunday's game by keeping Saturday's party going strong for as long as possible.
Lady Gaga made the entrance of the weekend when she descended from the rafters of the specially constructed Meridian at Island Gardens for her headline performance at AT&T TV Super Saturday Night.
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Rob Lowe, Jamie Foxx, Paul Rudd, Adriana Lima, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Nathalie Emmanuel and Sage Steele were among the stars at the most sought after concert of Super Bowl weekend.
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As usual, Maxim pulled out the big guns for their annual Big Game Experience on Saturday night. The Chainsmokers headlined the star-filled bash that included Victor Cruz, Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown, NeNe Leakes, Jake Paul, Tana Mongeau and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Latin duo MYA epitomized the Havana Nights-themed Maxim party that was hosted by In the Know Experiences and in collaboration with Columbia Records.
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion strutted her stuff on stage for the hot Maxim crowd that filled the specially built 40,000 square foot event space on Key Biscayne.
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New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter amped up the cool factor when he was honored by Excel Sports Management at an exclusive event on Friday. Nate Burleson hosted a chalk talk with Jeter, highlighting his historic career and his new endeavors in Miami. All proceeds from the event benefited the Turn 2 Foundation, which Jeter founded back in 1996 to motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol.
Excel Sports Management
Newly inducted Hall of Famer Derek Jeter and fellow guests arrived via yacht to a mansion on Star Island for the Excel Sports Management event, where illusionist David Blaine brought a real dose of magic to the night.
Excel Sports Management
NFL Hall of Fame duo and former San Francisco 49ers stars Steve Young and Jerry Rice unveiled their sixth “8 to 80 Zone” on behalf of The Forever Young Foundation and in partnership with the YWCA of Greater Miami-Dade, Inc. on Saturday, Feb. 1 in Miami. The “8 to 80 Zone” facility is a free resource within the YWCA of Greater Miami-Dade, Inc. for Miami area students exploring esports, production, and game development careers or who want to learn and compete with their peers locally and across the globe.
The Forever Young Foundation
Young and Rice, who collectively earned 20 Pro Bowl honors over their storied careers, cut the ribbon surrounded by supporters for the "8 to 80 Zone," which was received grants from the NFL Foundation as part of the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative.
The Forever Young Foundation
DJ Irie was one of many performers to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant over Super Bowl LIV weekend, taking a coveted No. 24 jersey on stage with him at the Sports Illustrated the Party brought by the Undisputed Group on Saturday night.
Sports Illustrated The Party Brought To You By The Undisputed Group
Purple and gold were the colors to be seen wearing over Super Bowl LIV weekend, as even the mysterious Marshmello rocked a Lakers jersey as he headline the Sports Illustrated the Party at the Fontainebleau Hotel on Saturday night. Paul McCartney, Elon Musk, Lil Jon, Wiz Khalifa, Terrell Owens, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Saquon Barkley were among the A-list names partying by the pool or in the Casamigos VIP area.
Sports Illustrated The Party Brought To You By The Undisputed Group
Former San Diego Chargers player Shawne Merriman did the rounds of the party circuit in Miami, stopping in at the Sports Illustrated the Party at the Fontainebleau on Super Bowl eve.
Sports Illustrated The Party Brought To You By The Undisputed Group
The Players' Tailgate adjacent to Hard Rock Stadium was the place to be on Sunday afternoon before heading into the big game. Where else can you get BBQ sandwiches personally served from celebrity chef Guy Fieri? Proceeds from the event benefitted the Irie Foundation and Operation BBQ Relief, which provides emergency meals during times of crisis.
Jeff Lewis/AP Images for The Players Tailgate
ESPN host and Indiana native Sage Steele chatted on stage with Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard at the Players' Tailgate on Sunday afternoon. The "SportsCenter" host admitted she was still a little bias towards her hometown team.
Jeff Lewis/AP Images for The Players Tailgate
Members of the Operation Warrior Wishes displayed their team colors at the Players' Tailgate 2020 Miami by Bullseye Event Group on Sunday afternoon.
Jeff Lewis/AP Images for The Players Tailgate
Event host Sage Steele kept a tight hold of Charles Woodson's Intercept wine at the Players' Tailgate. With guests like Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Chad Johnson and WWE's Mojo Rawley in the crowd, who can blame her?
Jeff Lewis/AP Images for The Players Tailgate
After playing in the Super Bowl last year, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald got to attend the VIP events this time around. On Friday, Donald (pictured here with Adam Lefkoe) was part of a Q&A at the Thuzio Party at Paramount Miami Worldcenter.
Thuzio
Former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber posed with Thuzio co-founder Jared Augustine at their 2020 event, which was headlined by Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion, Steve Young.
Thuzio
While the weather was less than desirable, that didn't keep the cool kids away from Friday night’s Bootsy on the Water (where added water also fell from the sky courtesy of a violent Florida storm). Post Malone headlined the bash at Key Biscayne, with backup from Super Bowl MVP Von Miller (a.k.a. DJ Sauce Von the Don), DJ Zack Bia, DJ Irie, Fred Matters and Devin Lucien.
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Cleveland Brown QB and former No. 1 draft pick Baker Mayfield attended the Bootsy party with Emily Wilkinson, while Browns teammate Odell Beckham Jnr. was also spotted in the crowd.
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Katie Kansas brought a colorful crew of neon-clad girlfriends to the Bootsy on the Water, which was put on by the h.wood Group, In the Know Experiences and The Network Advisory.
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Lady Gaga proves she knows how to make an entrance, Shaq pays tribute to Kobe, and Gronk just came to party
The Kansas City Chiefs were no doubt still partying well into Monday morning after their fourth quarter thriller in Hard Rock Stadium. But long before they took down the San Francisco 49ers, the top names in entertainment and sports hit the party scene in Miami.