The sports world received its latest WojBomb on Wednesday with the news that ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski is leaving to take over as general manager of the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball program.
The news surprised everyone with the NBA season starting next month. The 55-year-old Wojnarowski has been with ESPN since 2017. Before working with the “Global Leader”, he worked for Yahoo Sports and The Record of Bergen County newspaper in New Jersey.
Those inside and outside of the sports media reacted to the amazing news after Wojnarowski’s announcement.
The latest news from the NBA is Wojnarowski posted on social media was the three-year, $38 million extension signed by Okoro with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Stephen A. Smith
Stephen A. Smith reacts to the news of Adrian Wojnarowski’s sudden retirement from ESPN.
“I’m happy for him, but I’m sad for us as a network because it’s a devastating loss for us not to have him.” pic.twitter.com/m6jBieq5tG
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 18, 2024
Wojnarowski appeared on ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” with Stephen A. “He’s the best in the business. He’s the best in the business — make no mistake about it.”
Jeff Passan
I have been fortunate to spend over 20 years in this business working with loads of talented people. Adrian Wojnarowski is the best. Period. An unparalleled reporter. A talented wordsmith. Narrator nonpareil. He’s Jim Brown and Barry Sanders, leaving at the top of his game.
– Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 18, 2024
Passan, an ESPN baseball writer, has worked with Wojnarowski at both Yahoo Sports and ESPN.
And Wetzel
Adrian Wojnarowski retired as the NBA’s most competitive sports reporter. Rather than join an NBA front office or a high major college program, he will serve as GM at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure, and will try to lead the Bonnies back to an NCAA tournament. https://t.co/iiiOCF9Swe
– Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) September 18, 2024
With his contacts and experience, if Wojnarowski wanted to leave journalism for the competitive side of the business, he could easily join a sports agency or an NBA front office. At least one other major college program, upon hearing rumors of Woj’s move, offered him a similar spot with them and the allure of trying to win a national title.
Instead he took the freedom provided by making enough money that he didn’t need any more money to create his dream job. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Wetzel was a colleague of Wojnarowski during Woj’s time at Yahoo Sports.
