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Adrian Wojnarowski Retires From ESPN – 5 of His Best ‘Woj Bombs’

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NBASports Business

BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — Adrian Wojnarowski, Senior NBA Insider for ESPN, is retiring from his award-winning journalism career and returning to his alma mater as general manager for the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball program.

I can’t believe I’m around to see this day, the day the great Woj hangs up his jersey. Veteran NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski announced on Twitter that he would be retiring from ESPN to pursue a GM role with his alma mater, St. Bonaventure, and its men’s basketball program.

I’m happy for Woj. It feels like it would have taken his dream job to walk away from what he’s doing, and I think that is exactly what this is. If you’ve ever heard Woj on interviews, or even just looked at his Twitter bio, he is a proud Bonnie. I have no doubt that, with his connections, he could have entered an NBA organization’s front office, but this is what he wanted. I wish him nothing but the best.

Woj was known for his breaking news tweets that would immediately put NBA fans into a frenzy. His word was bond. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and review some of the best ‘Woj Bombs.’

Honorable Mention

This tweet was the real start of COVID for me, but it’s not basketball related so it’s only an horrible mention. No one was happy to read this Woj bomb.

Oklahoma City Trades James Harden to Houston

James Harden to the Rockets created an enormous ‘what if’ scenario with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the core of Harden, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook. This trade happened just three days before the regular season started. It certainly felt a little risky at the time for Houston to put their faith in a guy who was the Sixth Man for OKC, but it all worked out.

Harden would go on to be one of the most prolific scorers of all-time during his tenure in Houston; which culminated in two Western Conference Finals appearances, falling to the dynastic Golden State Warriors in both meetings. Harden was able to spread his wings and fly in Houston, and will undoubtedly be a first ballot Hall-of-Famer for the Rockets.

The Brooklyn Nets Sign Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan

A team that ended up as one of the biggest messes the NBA has seen in recent memory. As a Knicks fan, this felt like a gut punch at the time. It was all “Kevin Durant” this, and “Kyrie Irving” that. Only for them to inevitably sign with a New York team, just not the New York team.

The Nets had a great Eastern Conference Semi-Finals appearance against the future-champion Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, losing in seven games because Durant’s feet are too big, but that’s the lone playoff bright spot. They were swept in the first round by the Celtics the next season. In February of 2023, the Nets traded away Kyrie to the Mavs and KD to the Suns.

I didn’t even mention all the nonsense that happened with Kyrie and COVID protocols during the 2020 season, or the injuries that mounted up when they traded for James Harden. The whole saga was one big “yikes.”

Adam Silver Bans Donald Sterling For Life

The Donald Sterling saga was insane. One of the very first tasks Adam Silver was faced with after becoming Commissioner of the NBA, was how to deal with Donald Sterling. The former Clippers owner had several voicemails leaked of him spewing racist comments and other controversial rhetoric while on the phone with his mistress.

In a decisive move, Silver forced Sterling to sell his franchise and, effective immediately, would be banned from the NBA for life. From Ramona Shelburne’s ESPN article, “Donald Sterling had been a blight on the NBA for three decades. There were dozens of incidents that could have been grounds to kick him out of the league, but this tape was something else.”

David Stern Kills the Chris Paul-to-Lakers Trade

The oldest bomb on this list, I wish Twitter was more active in 2011, but it was still relatively new to the masses at the time. David Stern killing the Chris Paul to the Lakers trade robbed us of seeing CP3 with Kobe Bryant, who had just won back-to-back titles. In a league where the Miami Big 3 was already formed, Silver said no to letting the Point God be a Laker. 

Seems pretty insane, but there were also unusually circumstances; the reason this happened is because the League was temporarily under control of the New Orleans Hornets, who were in limbo with ownership. He didn’t think the trade was in the best interest of the Hornets. It was, of course, an extremely controversial decision that happened just after the league lifted the NBA lockout and players were getting ready to start the season. Bean and CP3, what a time that would’ve been.

The OKC Thunder Trade Paul George to the LA Clippers

After LeBron signed with the Lakers, the Clippers became front-runners to make a splash of their own. They did just that, trading for Thunder forward Paul George in a MASSIVE deal that singlehandedly created the Oklahoma City Thunder team that is assembled today.

Kawhi Leonard signed with the Clippers with the specific request that they trade for George, and so their superteam was born. Unfortunately for Clippers fans, these two guys couldn’t stay healthy in the regular season together or the playoffs long enough to ever reach The Finals. Paul George signed with the Philadelphia 76ers this past summer, officially ending their run together.

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