On the night LeBron James ended up shattering the NBA’s all-time scoring record, Adam Lefkoe came to work thinking he and his colleagues would not receive the opportunity to cover the event firsthand. After all, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the then-record holder, had played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks over a legendary, 20-year career – and the two teams were set to square off two days later.
Nonetheless, Lefkoe came into the assignment studio hosting coverage of the Lakers’ matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder prepared just in case James put up the 36 points needed to make history. Once James was photographed arriving at the arena donning a black suit with a pin reading, “Stay present,” his mindset became evident. NBA on TNT Tuesday studio analyst and WNBA superstar Candace Parker turned to Lefkoe and assured him she could tell that James was trying to break the record that night.
Of course, James ended up making history and participated in a profound moment with Abdul-Jabbar and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at center court, and then addressed the crowd and expressed his gratitude. Although the Lakers lost the game, all the attention was fixed on James postgame. The broadcast on TNT attracted 3 million viewers, rendering it as the most-viewed regular season telecast outside of those on opening night since 2018.
Originally, the plan for NBA on TNT Tuesday’s studio coverage, anticipating a delay in being able to speak with James, was to discuss the enormity of the record and welcome Abdul-Jabbar on the program to gain his perspective. As is often the case on live television though, plans quickly changed, and the crew had to adjust and be ready in mere seconds for the conversation of a lifetime.
“When that game ended, he went straight to the TNT camera,” Lefkoe said of James, “so now I have a producer in my ear going, ‘We’re getting LeBron.’ You want to make the moment special, and people at home are probably thinking that I have a script or I’ve planned out every word. The true thing is at that point, you kind of black out where you just rely on all the experience you have.”
Preparation is one of the keys to success as a studio host, and it is something Lefkoe has actively worked to master over his time working in sports media. Jayson Stark, who currently works as a senior MLB writer with The Athletic, told Lefkoe that he kept a journal containing compelling statistics and other abstruse information about players and teams. Uncovering these data and intelligence is achieved through remaining engaged with sports and its news cycle, staying ready at all times.
Leading up to a typical NBA on TNT Tuesday broadcast, Lefkoe is fervently reading information and columns about all 30 NBA teams from both local and national outlets. Moreover, he regularly listens to NBA podcasts and respected national commentators; however, he always makes sure to form his own opinion on matters beforehand to prevent merely adopting other people’s viewpoints.
When he flies to Atlanta on Mondays, he continues to compile information, statistics, and storylines onto a spreadsheet which he refines Tuesday with updated information. He also texts with game commentators Ian Eagle and Brian Anderson, along with the network’s reporters to discover what they are hearing from across the league.
“I’m communicating constantly with my producer Keith Robinson to make sure that we are doing right as the show of record for that night,” Lefkoe said. “….Once I sit on the set, then it’s almost like creating a battle station where I have everything where I think I need it. That’s also when I start going, ‘Okay, what are the current events? What are some things that maybe we should bring into this?’ because we’re more than just a basketball show.”
Differentiation has been an essential aspect of Lefkoe’s fortuitous rise in sports media, and something he feels he has done from the onset of his career. As a high school basketball player, he would sit in the stands with his teammates during other games and perform faux broadcasts. Realizing he enjoyed this, he decided to matriculate at Syracuse University to study broadcast journalism, but did not take the typical path of most alumni in quickly joining WAER-FM.
Instead, Lefkoe found a path on the air as a freshman for four hours on Sunday mornings before NFL action on WJPZ-FM (Z89) hosting a talk show called Between the Lines. As a radio host, he tried to be conversational and congenial, forming enduring professional relationships with the listeners and the athletes. He viewed himself as an “outsider” and thought of Ernie Johnson and Ahmad Rashad as sources of inspiration on which to base his career.
“Ernie, for me, is the godfather,” Lefkoe said. “His ability to control the flow [and] to be calm, cool, collected; to always get a point across without being overbearing – I just thought it was perfection. Ahmad – I only saw him playing golf with Michael Jordan or smoking a cigar or dunking with Shaq. That connection with athletes; almost getting to be friends with [Jordan], I just thought was such a cool approach.”
Out of school, Lefkoe began working in news as a reporter and anchor for KHAS-TV in Hastings, Neb. where he was exposed to and became an expert on college football. It was a difficult moment in his career when many of his friends had moved to major markets and began to build viable careers for themselves. Lefkoe was making $18,500 a year, persisting through this time period to hone his craft and define his style.
By mid-2010, Lefkoe had moved to Louisville, where he eventually became a sports anchor and began primarily covering college basketball. Yet he realized at this point that he was working for an outlet that did not attract viewers in his age demographic and had not established notoriety in the space. As a result, he struggled to find agents to represent him as a sportscaster, with some citing what they believed was a lack of growth potential.
“It was the realization as a 26-year-old that no one my age cared about the local news and I was regurgitating my Twitter timeline for people over the age of 65,” Lefkoe explained. “[I had to figure out] how [to] bridge this gap between digital and linear, and kind of create almost a watch party for my show.”
Out of frustration, he began performing unique stunts on the air, including famously dropping 41 Seinfeld references in five minutes on a newscast, and blogged to fans, asking them for suggestions to freshen up the program. One month later, his phone was essentially ringing off the hook with agents looking to represent him since his broadcasts had become appointment viewing, blending information and entertainment.
It led to work with Bleacher Report where he executive produced and hosted the Simms and Lefkoe podcast with former NFL quarterback Chris Simms. In combining their knowledge, expertise, experience, and entertainment-value, the two cultivated a formidable duo, welcoming guests and attaining high ratings. The success was earned through consistency in their posting schedule and remaining connected with football fans, producing content they would want to hear. Four years later, the company introduced a weekly video series during the NFL season shot partially from its midtown Manhattan headquarters and in the field.
Once Simms left Bleacher Report in 2019 to join Football Night in America, the program was rebranded as The Lefkoe Show, marking a new chapter in Lefkoe’s broadcasting career by hosting a solo podcast. The program itself had recently lost its longtime producer Josh Fendrick, who had just been hired by Overtime as head of content operations, making the challenge even more daunting.
“That was the squad, and I remember feeling a lot of doubt thinking, ‘Are people actually going to still listen to this without the former football player?,’” Lefkoe said. “What happened then was that it really expanded my marketing frame…. It became an adventure of being more comfortable with myself as an opinion-haver, and it also let me dive deeper into storytelling.”
Although he continues to work with Bleacher Report on select programming, Lefkoe essentially made a transition towards the end of 2019 when it was announced that he would host NBA on TNT Tuesdays. Growing up as a fan of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith on Inside the NBA, it was a dream come true for Lefkoe to join this storied sports media property. Lefkoe began working alongside O’Neal, along with Dwayne Wade and Candace Parker, delivering fans compelling linear studio content blended with his digital-savvy and the unique approach Turner Sports brings to its programming.
“When I was given that opportunity, that was one of the greatest moments of my life,” Lefkoe said. “Our careers are very subjective, so when someone comes and says they believe in you enough to give you such an important role, it’s very meaningful and it really makes you take a step back and have gratitude for your journey.”
Before beginning the role, Lefkoe received advice from Dan Patrick, host of the nationally-syndicated program, The Dan Patrick Show, about how he should approach the job like former Utah Jazz guard and Basketball Hall of Fame member John Stockton. As the association’s all-time leader in assists, Stockton exhibited an alacrity for setting up his teammates on the court. His on-court generosity helped propel the team to playoff appearances in every year of his career and teammate Karl Malone near the top of the all-time scoring list.
“I joked with him that I want to be John Stockton but I very much end up being Stephon Marbury,” Lefkoe said. “I love being able to sit back and listen to my analysts have a discussion and realize that they don’t need me to guide it. That’s when the solo-hosting of a podcast starts bubbling up, and I have an opinion and I want to get it in so bad.”
Lefkoe aims to have his analyst express five times the words per minute as he does on the show, realizing the importance of divulging and accentuating their perspectives. At the same time, he tries to enjoy himself on set and work with the social media team to promote viral moments across multiple platforms. In this way, the show breaks the metaphorical “fourth wall” between the panel and the viewer, and has been recognized for doing so with Sports Emmy Award honors for “Outstanding Interactive Experience.”
“It’s a conversation that we have during every production meeting, which is, ‘What are people talking about?,’ and ‘How do we join the conversation?,’” Lefkoe said. “I think it’s something beautiful. I think a lot of sports TV is, ‘Let me yell my opinion at you, and you need to listen.’ I feel like our show is, ‘Let’s talk with NBA fans.’”
Much of the entertainment value of the broadcasts, while it is surely an intent before each show, comes organically through interaction between Lefkoe and the rest of the panel. Usually, he arrives on the set and just then begins to ponder over unique angles, even though he frequently brainstorms new ideas, oftentimes on a napkin at a coffee shop. Once these segments sporadically occur, Turner Sports tries to quickly post them on digital platforms to exhort instant reactions, some of which are then featured on the program.
“You can talk about a dunk all you want, but if you compare it to Michael B. Jordan dunking on a reporter, someone at home might find that enjoyable,” Lefkoe said. “I think just talking to a lot of comedian-friends of mine too, the one thing you can’t do with comedy is force it. Again, it’s kind of like having it in the chamber in case it comes up, and then that also might be something that we do with our social media people in-between hits or during commercial breaks that we can put that online to bring more viewers to linear.”
With the advent of new technology and changes in consumption habits, alternate broadcasts have permeated into the broadcast landscape over the last several years. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, under the leadership of company president and CEO David Zaslav and sports chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser, has innovated in the space and created effective content offerings to pair with traditional programs.
For example, the Inside the NBA crew has appeared on Inside the All-Star Game during the hallmark event for the last two seasons, broadcast live on TBS. Bleacher Report, which is a subsidiary of the company, produces digital live shows surrounding game action, some of which Lefkoe has hosted including during the NFL Draft. Moreover, Turner Sports experimented with “Players Only” broadcasts but scrapped the concept before the 2019-20 season, instead launching NBA on TNT Tuesday. Nonetheless, the willingness to venture into different kinds of broadcast demonstrates briskness in adaptability and flexibility amid a dynamic, saturated marketplace.
“I think that this next generation – this Gen-Z generation – I don’t know if anybody really has a firm grasp yet on how they consume [content], but I do know it seems like it’s personality over information,” Lefkoe said. “It’s finding a way to connect with people and provide them a place where they’re watching with friends. How this develops and what the final product is; I still don’t think we’re there yet.”
Lefkoe recently signed a contract extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports in which he will continue his work with Turner Sports, NBA TV, and Bleacher Report, citing its familial environment. His previous contract extension coincided with the move towards its linear platforms and decided to remain with the company because he feels he has helped build something that is somewhat incomplete.
“I didn’t think I was finished,” Lefkoe said. “I’m going into year 10 with this company, and there’s been a lot of different iterations…. For me, it’s about working with your friends, and also, I’m still living out my dream. They’ve been so good to me, and I want to put in that effort back to reward that faith.”
During one of the first times Lefkoe was reporting at a game, he asked famed men’s basketball head coach Rick Pitino a question to which he responded, “Come back with a better question; that’s not a good question.” As soon as the press conference concluded, many of the other reporters approached Lefkoe and told him that what he had endured from Pitino was usual and that he does it to everybody. Even so, it prompted Lefkoe to cogitate on his thought process of asking questions. He duly redeemed himself by the next press conference, arriving ready and more confident in his abilities.
This year, Lefkoe covered the NBA All-Star Game and has fostered relationships with many of the players around the league. On several occasions, players have approached him to express how they think he is doing a great job in his role with Warner Bros. Discovery, including Phoenix Suns teammates Chris Paul and Kevin Durant. This year as a media member at NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, he called the Jordan Rising Stars Challenge, along with contributing to additional coverage across Turner Sports’ platforms. Some of his memorable moments included interviewing Philadelphia 76ers guard Mac McClung after he won the 2023 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard following his win in the 2023 Starry 3-Point Contest.
Today, Lefkoe continues to work with O’Neal and Parker, along with former NBA guard Jamal Crawford, who replaced Wade on the panel after he departed Turner Sports before the season. Crawford ended up proving invaluable during the network’s interview with James after he broke the scoring record, helping Lefkoe realize the gravity of the moment he was a part of. That realization, combined with the perspective of just how rare this circumstance was, allowed Lefkoe to construct and deliver a comprehensive and reflective question. It elicited an insightful response from James surrounded by cheering fans and the bright lights of “Tinseltown.”
Since James broke the record in the third quarter, Lefkoe opened up his “gem notebook,” something he began keeping in the offseason featuring notes, quotes and other information about NBA players and teams. From the time he started accumulating content for the notebook, Lefkoe has filled several pages and utilizes it to be able to react in the moment.
As he turned the pages of the book, he came across a quote penned by Suzanne Collins, the author of “The Hunger Games” that read: “Throw me to the wolves, and I’ll return leading the pack.” Lefkoe quickly remembered that the logo of James’ tequila brand, Lobos 1707, is a wolf, along with how he has been regarded as a leader and role model throughout his storied career. After reciting the quote to James on the air, Lefkoe said to James: “You are now leading the pack. How is the view?” James cracked a smile and proceeded to explain how breaking the record was never something he had entered the league intending to do and said the achievement was “surreal.”
“I had written that down from the previous July from a book I was reading,” Lefkoe said. “….To be able to kind of use that in that moment, and when I said it he kind of shook his head, I was kind of like, ‘Wow, the universe does conspire sometimes to really create the magical moments.’ I was so proud of that because I think we did justice to him. Shoot, man – when’s the next time that’s going to get broken? Seventy years from now; maybe never?”
With a new contract and parity across the NBA, Lefkoe is motivated to continue improving his craft both on digital and linear platforms of dissemination and seeks to make a connection and an impact with viewers. Refraining from thinking about his job or sports in general is difficult since it has been a part of his life for many years – first as a fan and now as a media member.
“I truly want to be one of the best,” Lefkoe articulated. “I don’t know how to do things less than 100%, and this is something for me that even when I’m out to dinner with my wife or I’m playing with my nephew, I’m still thinking about the gig. The passion just doesn’t quit; it’s like a fire that burns.”
As Lefkoe gains more broadcast opportunities and propagates an effective blend between digital and traditional forms of media, he consistently reviews his footage to find areas in which he can improve. Much like a professional athlete, part of his job is not only to perform but also to reflect on his performance and strive for excellence every time he steps in front of the camera. Quite simply, he is his own harshest critic, and through this criticism, he develops bonafide skills while always remaining cognizant of his roots and the essence of actualizing and expanding his potential.
“If you’re going to listen to your parents telling you how great you are, that means you also have to listen to the people [who] tell you [that] you suck,” Lefkoe said. “That means you can’t listen to anybody. Every time you do a show, you need to sit there and watch yourself after the show. You need to look at your hands; you need to look at your mouth; you need to listen to it. If you made a mistake, you can’t just blame the fact that you had a busy day. ‘How can you continue to improve?,’ and I think it starts with actually watching yourself.”
Derek Futterman is a former associate editor and sports media reporter for Barrett Media. He previously interned for Paramount within Showtime Networks, wrote for the Long Island Herald and served as lead sports producer at NY2C. Find him on X @derekfutterman.
