NBA
Woj vs Shams: who was the fastest in announcing the picks in the 2023 NBA Draft?
In what is becoming an increasingly fierce battle between the two “inside men,” the question as to who was first may actually be less important than who was right?
As an insider for ESPN, Adrian Wojnarowski is often at the center of the latest and greatest breaking news in the world of the NBA. So too it should be said is his counter part, The Athletic/Stadium’s Shams Charania. Indeed, both men have developed a fun rivalry in recent years, as they often race to be the first to break significant stories about players and teams. One such contest and perhaps the biggest is that of the NBA Draft. Woj and Shams as they are commonly known normally go toe for toe on Draft day, as the battle to be first to spoil the surprise of who gets picked and what team they go to.
Adrian Wojnarowski jumped the gun last year
After being roundly roasted in 2022 for jumping the gun and revealing “confirmed” draft picks that turned out to be anything but, Woj decided to focus in 2023 on his broadcasting job rather than tweeting out results. Ultimately, that may be better for fans since the correct information is always the trump card over “first.”
Does it matter if NBA Draft picks are announced early?
While it’s not entirely a crisis if Draft picks are leaked to the public earlier than when the Draft itself occurs, it can cause some problems. If one thing is clear about NBA teams around Draft time, it’s that they are the total opposite of secure when it comes to information such that it can in turn affect the kind of offers teams receive for their draft picks. Needless to say some teams even use this as an intentional tactic in an effort to feel out the market. Consider for a moment that if it’s ‘confirmed’ that ‘Team A’ will pick ‘Player B’ they can get an almost immediate look at what other teams might be willing to offer for their new prospect.
What’s the verdict on Woj vs Shams
Woj got buffaloed last year in the top three, while this year, Shams was smoke screened with the number two pick. In the end, all fans are thinking that there could be a problem brewing with Sportsbook and the rush to be the first to get information out. So it comes as a relief to hear that both men have made a commitment to focus on the content rather than the clock.
Whoever you like, it is a back and forth race with each one alternating in getting a story tweeted first, often with a difference of less than ten seconds between them. And while Shams is not completely blemish-free, the big boo boo by Woj in 2022 means that, in many fans eyes at least, Shams might just have the edge on him.