ESPN’s Game 6 Halftime Show Slammed by NBA Fans—Only Malika Andrews Spared
Game 6 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets should’ve been all about basketball. But for many fans tuning in on ESPN, the biggest controversy of the night had nothing to do with the players on the court—it was all about the halftime broadcast. Social media erupted with criticism, and while much of ESPN’s team came under fire, one person emerged unscathed: Malika Andrews.
<strong>Fans Unleash on Halftime Format</strong>
Instead of delivering analysis, excitement, or engaging segments, ESPN’s halftime show was widely panned for being underwhelming, commercial-heavy, and lacking real content. Many NBA viewers expressed frustration with how the show was structured—complaining about an overwhelming number of ads and minimal game discussion in between.
“Commercial — 15-second highlight — commercial — Kendrick Perkins segment — commercial,” summarized one fan in a now-viral post. This sentiment was echoed across platforms, with others sarcastically questioning if ESPN even had a plan for its halftime coverage.
<strong>Anthony F. Irwin Speaks Out
I genuinely don’t understand the point of ESPN’s halftime show. It’s honestly the dumbest content in all of sports and that’s obviously saying something.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) May 16, 2025
Even NBA insiders joined the chorus. Anthony F. Irwin, a respected Lakers journalist, didn’t hold back. “I genuinely don’t understand the point of ESPN’s halftime show. It’s honestly the dumbest content in all of sports,” he posted on X. His take was mirrored by fans who found the show uninformative and poorly paced.
<strong>Malika Andrews Earns Rare Praise</strong>
Despite the backlash, one name avoided criticism—Malika Andrews. Viewers were quick to exclude her from the complaints, suggesting she was the only part of the broadcast delivering real value. While other on-air personalities, including Kendrick Perkins, faced backlash for offering “zero analysis” or “zero value,” fans noted that Andrews remained a strong presence even amidst the chaos.
<strong>Comparison to TNT Adds Fuel</strong>
For many fans, it wasn’t just that ESPN’s show was bad—it was made worse by comparison. TNT’s popular “Inside the NBA” crew continues to set the gold standard for NBA halftime content. “ESPN’s NBA halftime is so much worse than TNT it’s embarrassing,” wrote one viewer. Others claimed ESPN wasn’t just lacking—it was “unwatchable,” regardless of competition.
<strong>Time for a Wake-Up Call</strong>
In the end, fans made one thing clear: they expect more from one of the biggest names in sports media. With so many options for consuming NBA content, today’s audience won’t settle for filler segments and a barrage of ads. Unless ESPN reevaluates its halftime strategy, it risks continuing to lose credibility—and viewers.
Game 6 may have delivered drama on the court, but off the court, ESPN’s halftime show became the night’s real talking point—for all the wrong reasons.