NBA insider Shams Charania announced on Monday that he’s joining ESPN.
Charania announced his move to the network weeks after his former mentor, rival and longtime NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski stepped down from his role at ESPN to become the general manager for the basketball program at his alma mater St. Bonaventure.
“I am honored to join ESPN as the company’s senior NBA insider,” Charania wrote on social media. “I can’t wait to be part of an incredible group of colleagues at ESPN and serve the sports audience worldwide.”
I am honored to join ESPN as the company’s Senior NBA Insider. I can’t wait to be part of an incredible group of colleagues at ESPN and serve the sports audience worldwide. pic.twitter.com/sBDFGIpkb6
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 7, 2024
Charania is leaving The Athletic to join ESPN. Wojnarowski and Charania both previously worked as colleagues at Yahoo Sports, where Wojnarowski mentored Charania as he broke into the business.
Terms of Charania’s deal with ESPN were not initially reported.
As rivals, Charania and Wojnarowksi were the two leaders in NBA breaking news, and each amassed massive social media followings from fans looking to stay on top of the news. With Wojnarowki’s retirement from the industry, Charania joins ESPN as the leading voice in basketball breaking news.
ESPN’s MLB insider Jeff Passan was also reportedly a candidate to take over for Wojnarowksi. He responded on social media to Charania’s announcement on Monday that “Baseball’s better anyway.”
This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
