ESPN’s senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski announced his retirement from the network via X on Wednesday, ending his 37-year ascension as a sports journalism industry leader.
Wojnarowski spent the past seven at ESPN, and was a pioneering source since the 2000s breaking scoops on social media for the NBA’s top news about all 30 teams, including the Phoenix Suns‘ consequential roster construction that made them into a title contender in recent years.
“This craft transformed my life, but I’ve decided to retire from ESPN and the news industry,” Wojnarowski said. “I understand the commitment required in my role and its investment that I’m no longer driven to make. Time isn’t in endless supply and I want to spend mine in ways that are more personally meaningful.”
Several of Wojnarowski’s ESPN colleagues including their respective NFL and MLB senior insiders Adam Schefter and Jeff Passan appeared on Wednesday’s “NBA Today” episode and called him “the greatest basketball reporter who ever lived,” as well as “Wojnarowski changed this business.”
As Wojnarowski embarks on his next job as the general manager of his alma mater’s St. Bonaventure men’s basketball program, many fans, local Phoenix sports media shared their greatest memories on X about the greatest “Woj bombs” about the Suns. That includes the pivotal trades of Chris Paul from the Oklahoma City Thunder to Phoenix in November 2020, Kevin Durant dealt from the Brooklyn Nets to Phoenix in February 2023, and Bradley Beal sent from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Paul in June 2023.
Woj retiring is a huge loss for the NBA community. Many Suns fans were displeased with how the Nets used him in the KD trade discussions. But there is no question he is the best in the business. He will go down as arguably the best news breaker of all time.
— Inside the Sun (@_insidethesun) September 18, 2024
My favorite Woj story. I’m on a family vacation at the beach with my brother-in-law Alvin Gentry, who had been fired from the Phoenix Suns. He’s on the phone with Doc Rivers. When he hangs up, I ask what’s going on? He said Doc wants to me to come to LA and be his associate head…
— Don Harris (@DonHarris4) September 18, 2024
Quick Woj story: He once got credentialed but didn’t show to a preseason Suns game. They moved me to his better seat to be nice.
His name was still there and a certain local media member shook my hand and said “nice to finally meet you” and I had to say, “So I am not Woj”
— Kevin Zimmerman (@KZimmermanAZ) September 18, 2024
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns fans react on social media to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski retiring
