NBA insider Shams Charania has decided to leave Stadium after six years with the outlet.
Charania, who is now 30, was a familiar face on Stadiumโs weekly show โInside the Associationโ and its daily program โThe Rally.โ He also played a key role in shows during the NBA draft and free agency periods, which helped boost the site’s viewership on social media. Sponsored by AT&T and State Farm, his presence was significant for Stadium.
A representative for Charania did not respond immediately when asked for comments. According to Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post, Charania’s contracts with The Athletic and FanDuel TV are also nearing their end. Itโs still uncertain if he will renew with either or both as negotiations continue.
Charania remains The Athletic’s Senior NBA Insider. From 2015 to 2018, he served as Yahoo Sportsโ national NBA Insider. His career began at age 17 when he covered the Chicago Bulls for ChicagoNow, part of the Chicago Tribune.
In 2012, Charania started writing for RealGM and reported on NBA team transactions across the league. Raised in Wilmette, Illinois, he attended New Trier High School before graduating from Loyola University Chicago.
Controversy Over FanDuel Work
In January 2023, controversy arose due to Charaniaโs dual roles as a reporter and a gambling partner with FanDuel. Many saw this as a conflict of interest because his reporting influenced betting odds directly related to FanDuel’s sportsbook.
For instance, during the lead-up to the 2023 NBA draft, Charania tweeted that Scoot Henderson was gaining momentum as the No. 2 pick with Charlotte Hornets. This caused bettors to rush and place bets on Henderson despite him being an underdog just moments earlier. Suddenly, Hendersonโs odds shifted dramatically while Brandon Millerโs odds changed too.
Miller eventually went No. 2 overall to the Hornets while Henderson landed at No. 3 with Portland Trail Blazersโproving how unpredictable these things can be!
Fans think this mix of reporting and betting can get quite messy!
Future Prospects in Media
Interestingly enough, Charania’s departure comes at an intriguing time for sports media. Starting in 2025, new broadcasting deals are expected between NBA and platforms like Amazon Prime Video along with NBC returning after over two decades away from basketball coverage.
These networks will likely look to hire experienced journalists like Charania soon for their studio programming needsโa golden opportunity indeed!
