Former ESPN employee Adrian Wojnarowski was one of the most prominent members of the media covering the NBA. However, he surprised everyone with his abrupt retirement in September 2024 after being diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer in March.
Woj now had time to address his decision to leave the journalistic business. In an interview with Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the former insider discussed his experience at ESPN. He claimed that he frequently dealt with breaking news on special occasions and that the obligations of his job prevented him from spending time with his family.
After leaving ESPN, he became the general manager of the men’s basketball team at St. Bonaventure University, his alma mater, in September.
“Some of it, Woj says, is easy to explain. There was no conspiracy. He wasn’t forced out. Wasn’t threatened with a pay cut. At 55, he was simply burned out. Insiders are the most well-compensated journalists. But the hours are brutal. Holidays, birthdays, barbecues—all threatened by the pursuit of a transaction. Last year, as a Philadelphia 76ers–Los Angeles Clippers deal involving James Harden came together, Woj decamped overnight in an airport because he was afraid the Wi-Fi on a cross-country flight wouldn’t work. Last summer, he ducked out of a family movie night to break news of Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley’s contract extension. His wife, Amy, refers to his phone as a fifth family member. It goes to bed with you. It goes on vacation with you. It’s uninvited … but it’s everywhere you go,” Mannix wrote.
NEW: Why did Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) walk away from ESPN? A grueling schedule, a health scare and a deep love for his alma mater. Inside the most stunning media story of the year https://t.co/wsPIMkqetD
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) December 5, 2024
In his talk with Mannix, Woj revealed the new challenge of becoming a general manager excited him. This was the reason he chose to leave ESPN and return to where he started.
“What I was doing, it just wasn’t fulfilling anymore,” Woj says. “I was just done. This is what gets me excited. To learn something new, to be part of something like this. It’s a whole new challenge.”
Woj talked about his “rivalry” with his protege NBA Insider
Shams Charania advanced through the ranks while working for The Athletic, while Woj established himself as one of the leading NBA Insiders at ESPN, his successor. Both personalities dominated sports media with their excellent, fast-paced breaking news reporting.
Fans have, nevertheless, asserted that they had an unspoken rivalry. During his appearance on Carmelo Anthony’s show “7PM in Brooklyn,” Woj discussed his relationship with Charania and his admiration for the younger insider.
“I met him when he was in college, we hired him at Yahoo!” Woj said. “I think we helped pay for his last couple years of college.”
“You have to be driven to do this, you have to be willing to put in the work and he was always willing to put in the work. He reached out to me the day I retired and I told him, I said, ‘Hey, I hope you have as fulfilling and as gratifying of a career,’ or something like that.”
.@wojespn and @ShamsCharania were COMPETITORS but it's always respect 🫡 💯 pic.twitter.com/xWLMUccXcS
— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) December 5, 2024
He was questioned about whether there was a specific incident that stood out after being beaten by Charania for a news article. In his reaction, Woj, however, was modest and said that everyone in the sector is outperformed.
“You get beat by everybody. I’m pretty proud of my track record, we can go back and look at it. I’m proud of my career.”
Credit: AP Photo
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen with Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
