After Adrian Wojnarowski announced his surprise retirement, people turned their attention to Shams Charania, viewing him as a possible replacement for ESPN’s lead NBA insider. Wojnarowski, a giant in sports journalism known for breaking major news, announced on Thursday that he is retiring from sports reporting to become a general manager at St. Bonaventure University. With his departure, the question arises: can Charania fill the massive void left by his mentor?
After Shams Charania broke the first major news about Joel Embiid’s contract extension since Woj’s retirement, social media has been flooded with jokes and memes, reflecting mixed sentiments online.
A fan humorously wrote, “Woj retired bro u don’t gotta wake us up at 5am any more“
Another joked, “Woj would’ve been quicker“
A fan commented, “YOU’LL NEVER BE HIM!!” and shared a picture of Woj.
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Another person mentioned, “Won’t believe it until Woj tweets it”
Will Shams Charania Join ESPN?
Shams Charania has gained fame as a top NBA insider during his time at The Athletic and FanDuel TV. He has a large following and is known for his fast reporting, often competing with Wojnarowski. Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski started together at Yahoo Sports, where Wojnarowski helped Charania grow.
Their relationship became competitive when Charania stayed at Yahoo while Wojnarowski joined ESPN in 2017. With both of their contracts ending—Charania’s with The Athletic and FanDuel—he is now a strong candidate to join ESPN.
If Shams Charania moves to ESPN, he could reshape NBA reporting. He would gain Woj’s audience and have the chance to develop his own style. However, he also faces competition from insiders like Chris Haynes and Marc Stein, who are also looking for top positions in sports journalism.
Also Read: Adrian Wojnarowski Retirement: Five Greatest “Woj Bombs” By Legendary NBA Insider
