Behind the Mic: Adam Lefkoe’s Rise in Sports Broadcasting
You might recognize his voice as he shares the mic with Shaquille O’Neil on the iconic The Big podcast or his face from the Stream Room on TNT, but Adam Lefkoe is more than just a man behind the mic; he is an inspiration and go-getter.
Adam Lefkoe, sports journalist, reporter & anchor
On September 9th, I had the immense opportunity to interview Adam Lefkoe about his admirable career trajectory. This allowed me to gain insight into the inspirations and aspirations that drive his success. I wanted to know how a Philly native like us could find the spotlight. So, I did.
To begin our interview, I asked Adam how high school helped shape his career today, to which he replied, “So, I transferred high schools in Tenth Grade. That process helped a lot because you are meeting an entirely new group of people and constantly establishing relationships quickly. From a school perspective, high school was the first time I was in an English class, where all we did was write. I thoroughly enjoy writing. However, the time I take to sit down and write a paper now is non-existent. Still, if I am doing the Mountain West Show or NBA on TNT, there will be a time when the producer goes, ‘Hey, this big story happened, can you write a little something and talk about it?’ and it’s in those moments that you may have 10-15 minutes to tell an entire story in 20 seconds. So, the ability to enjoy writing and actually understand your voice requires understanding how to write well.” Continuing, Adam expressed, “Also, to wrap up the question, I would also say I played basketball in high school, and that was one, the time I realized I wasn’t going to make the NBA, but two, I would sit in the stands when I was on Varsity watching JV play, and I would do funny play-by-plays. So, it would be like, ‘the guy with the bad haircut passes to the dude in the corner with his finger up his nose,’ and my teammates would laugh, and that’s when I began to realize that maybe I could do sports in some other way since I wasn’t going to make the NBA!”
Moving in a similar direction, I asked Adam what high school courses prepared him for his career today, to which he replied, “Definitely my fictional writing course where we had to write fictional stories. This class was the opposite of what I ever got to do in school, you know, no citing references and searching for research. It was more of writing dialog, writing situations, and storytelling.”
Jumping into the fun topics, I asked Adam how he got into the industry he is in today, to which he eagerly responded, “In high school, the first thing I decided to do was look up the best colleges for sports broadcasting, and the one I liked the most was Syracuse because it was in a great location with many successful alumni. I originally did not get accepted into the Newhouse school; I only got into general admission, and honestly, that crushed me- I cried. For some reason, I think it was my Grandma, and she came into my room, and she was like, ‘Why are you crying?’ and I told her I didn’t get in, and she was like, ‘But can you get in eventually?’ and I was like, ‘if I get a 3.7 my Freshman year, I can’. And you know what, she looked at me and said, ‘Well then get a 3.7,’ and walked out of the room. So, I got a 3.75 in my freshman year, and I got into Newhouse. I learned a lot from my classes and through many experiences. So with that, I knew I wanted to get into sports, but I couldn’t get a sports job, so I took a news job. I thought, let me just get in front of a television station, and maybe in my free time, I will do sports stuff on the side. So, from there, I got a new job at a local TV network, an NBC affiliate in Hastings, Nebraska, called KHAS TV. I was a reporter who shot, wrote, and edited my own stuff. I made $18,000 a year. I did that for two years. Also, on Saturdays, I wouldn’t have work, so I would go to Nebraska football games, and have other people film me so it would look like I was doing sports. After two years, I sent out my resume and got a job at WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky. After a few months, there was an opening in the sports division, and I got the job. So, for about three and a half years, I did local sports, covering college sports. I would also do stuff on the radio and do as many things as possible just to get out there. However, after a while, I began to hit a lag, so I thought of a way to try and use social media on TV. It took off, so I got a job in New York at a digital company called Bleacher Report. I would make videos for an app, nearly 20-25 a day there. I even started doing podcasts. And the thing is, the harder and harder you work, the more and more your bosses start to notice. So, from there, I was given more opportunities. And here is the thing: whenever someone asks you to do something, an opportunity, even if you have weekend plans to go on a trip with your friends or even if you are just exhausted, I always recommend doing it. I say this because more opportunities will come if you do it very well. Nobody can assume opportunities will keep coming. As soon as someone says no, they will stop. So, in about 2020, they launched a new show for the NBA on TNT and asked me to host it. Of course, I took this opportunity. I was blown away! I have been doing the show ever since. So, with my experience, they put me on March Madness, college football, and it has been a journey. It’s been nearly 16 years since I graduated from Syracuse, and all I can say is that it has flown by. Let me say that nothing is perfect. There is no such thing as a perfect job with the perfect salary, but I am thrilled that it has been such a long, hard journey because, looking back, I still cannot believe I did some of those things! You always want to be kind along the journey because people never forget the mean people.” Adam also added, “If you ever come to New York, and you look up at the buildings, remember, humans built those buildings. If they could do that, then you can do that. Anything anyone can do, you can do because they are just human, just like you. There is zero difference between us. Once people realize that, nothing is as scary.”
Adam Lefkoe co-hosts with Shaquille O’Neal
Follow: The Big Pod with Shaq
and Listen: The Big Podcast with Shaq
I then asked Adam what his favorite memory from his podcasts would be. Pondering, Adam replied, “I would say the moment Shaq (Shaquille O’Neil) asked me to do a podcast with him. I actually remember thinking we would make a really good podcast together, so when he called me and asked, I automatically thought this would be a blast. I find it very funny when I have to take an Uber to his house, and we pull up, and there is a huge basketball hoop and a Superman logo on the driveway, and the driver looks at me and goes, ‘Who lives here?’ That always makes me laugh!”
Seguaging to the next question, I asked Adam how it felt to work with such iconic, well-known people, to which he replied, “I forget because, in my role as the host, I have so many processed things that I need to remember that I am focused on doing the show, so when Shaq sits next to me or Candice Parker, I always just think, let’s have fun tonight! Now, when my friends visit and they are taking pictures with them, I realize this is different. In the beginning, I had to convince myself that this wasn’t a big deal, and I always remembered that nobody is better than anybody else and that you need to have confidence.”
Following, I asked Adam, famous or not, who he would say his role model is. With not much hesitation, Adam replied, “Number one is definitely my dad. I would also say his dad, too, so my grandfather. One summer, I was in high school, and I worked with my dad. We went to this place to pick up some equipment, and the man behind the counter goes, ‘You look just like Arthur!’ and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s my grandfather!’ and from there, another man came out, and they were talking about how amazing of a man he was. What you begin to realize is that it is your make-up. So, even if you are interviewing famous people or covering significant events, I’m Bruce’s son and Arthur’s grandson, and they fix refrigerators. It is a healthier way to look at life. However, in terms of people who have this career, I follow this guy, Ernie Johnson, who has worked at TNT for many years. In my opinion, he is one of the best hosts that has ever lived, and what made me happier is that when I met him, he was also one of the kindest human beings you’ll meet. When someone does a job that you love, and they are a really good person, they let you know that you can be a very good person if you ever do that job. He definitely gave me the certification that I can be a good person and successful.
Wrapping up our conversation, I asked Adam what advice he would give his high school self if he could go back in time. He jokingly replied, “I would exercise more and not eat all of those Doritos!” He continued, “Really enjoy the ride, especially with your friends.”
Lastly, to conclude our interview, I asked Adam what advice he would give students, despite their aspirations in life, when it comes to following their dreams. With one big smile on his face, he replied, “Anytime you are getting frustrated, anytime you feel cloudy, or anytime you find that the world is spinning, and you do not feel right, it is so important to get a pad and a pen, and sit down for an hour and write down everything in your head. Write it out. Then, once you get better at this exercise, ask yourself what your new dream would be. I think young people instead should not look for the best-paying job or the most fun job; I think really sitting with yourself and building a relationship with yourself is the most important way to find your true passions. Every now and then, check in with yourself and ask, ‘what will make you happy?’”
With that, I would like to thank Adam Lefkoe for allowing me to interview him. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to introduce yourself to Lower Moreland. Your vivaciousness could be felt through the screen, and I can confidently confirm that you are a true role model. Thank you for bringing so much life, light, and laughs to so many lives. Most importantly, thank you for proving to everyone that hard work can lead to success, and the importance of being kind and true to yourself. Keep inspiring!
Mia’s Zoom interview with Adam Lefkoe on September 9, 2024
