Shams Charania Joins ESPN as Senior NBA Insider

Shams Charania, a prominent figure in NBA news reporting, is set to join ESPN as its Senior NBA Insider. This strategic move comes in the wake of Adrian Wojnarowski‘s retirement from NBA coverage. Charania, at 30 years old, marks a new chapter as the youngest lead news breaker in ESPN’s history. Wojnarowski vacated his position to assume the role of general manager for St. Bonaventure’s men’s basketball team, his alma mater.

Charania’s transition to ESPN follows a noteworthy tenure at The Athletic, where he was known for his in-depth coverage and breaking news stories. He has also appeared on-air with platforms such as Stadium and FanDuel TV, and prior to The Athletic, he was associated with Yahoo Sports.

ESPN has announced that Charania will begin his appearances across various platforms starting Thursday, October 10. His schedule includes segments on Get Up, First Take, The Pat McAfee Show, SportsCenter, and NBA Today. Charania expressed enthusiasm for his new role, stating, “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.”

Burke Magnus, ESPN President, Content, praised Charania’s addition to the team, claiming, “Shams is one of the most well-connected and accomplished journalists in sports and we’re proud that he will now call ESPN his home. We’re excited for Shams to join our industry-leading NBA team. We know he’ll make an immediate and positive impact.”

Charania, a native of Chicago, Illinois, graduated from Loyola University in 2017. He has amassed over three million followers on social media, emphasizing his influence and reach within the sports journalism arena. His connections and ability to deliver timely and accurate information have established him as a leading figure in sports media.

Pat McAfee, a long-time advocate for Charania, reportedly played a role in facilitating talks between ESPN and the reporter, as McAfee both publicly and privately encouraged ESPN executives to recruit Charania. With ESPN’s strong lineup of NBA content, Charania is expected to significantly enhance the network’s coverage and audience engagement.