"The best to ever do it": NCAAB insider Jay Bilas pays tribute to Adrian Wojnarowski on his retirement
One of the most popular NBA insiders Adrian Wojnarowski is moving on from his senior role at ESPN. He joined the sportscasting giants in 2017, coming off stints at the Record of Bergen County and Yahoo Sports.
Wojnarowski’s surprising decision came in light of a reported general manager opportunity with his alma mater’s basketball program, St. Bonaventure.
NCAAB insider Jay Bilas shared a post on X to pay tribute to Wojnarowski.
"The best to ever do it. No colleague I respect more, and nobody has matched his impact in the business. One thing is certain, all of St. Bonaventure’s decisions will be FULLY INFORMED with Woj at the helm. Congrats Woj, and thank you," Bilas wrote.
Adrian Wojnarowski graduated from St. Bonaventure in 1991 and has maintained a strong connection with the university since then. Due to the NIL allocations and heavy use of the transfer portal, the general manager role in college basketball has become one of the most important roles in the space.
Adrian Wojnarowski’s big-league networks, college-level connections, knowledge of the sport and knack for a research-driven approach will help St. Bonaventure reach new heights in college basketball. Moreover, he already carries the values the university preaches, making for an easy transition for both sides.
Adrian Wojnarowski wants to focus only on his new role
Adrian Wojnarowski could join Doug Gottlieb as media personalities turn to college basketball-oriented roles this season. Gottlieb hosted a national sports radio show before being offered the head coaching role for the Green Bay basketball in May 2024.
However, despite the intensive role, Gottlieb kept his longtime broadcasting role alongside the coaching job. As a result, the Fox Sports personality had a special “conflict management plan,” in his five-year contract, creating a barrier between his two jobs.
On the other hand, Adrian Wojnarowski has left one of the biggest chairs in the sports journalism world. He does not intend to keep his role at ESPN in any capacity and wants to focus solely on his new position.
"The craft transformed my life, but I've decided to retire from ESPN and the news industry. I understand the commitment required in my role and it's an 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,” he said.
Moreover, according to Athletic, Wojnarowski is leaving nearly $20 million by walking away from ESPN.