By Nikola Miloradovic / info@eurohoops.net
Adrian Wojnarowski, a renowned basketball journalist, was best known for his time at ESPN, where he became the NBA’s top newsbreaker with his signature “Woj Bombs.” He built a career as one of the most trusted insiders in sports media, breaking major trades, signings, and draft picks.
After leaving ESPN, he transitioned into a front-office role, now serving as the General Manager of St. Bonaventure’s basketball program, where he focuses on rebuilding a championship-caliber team and player development.
In his new role, he traveled to Serbia for the first time to watch some of the brightest European talents at the Next Generation EuroLeague tournament in Belgrade.
“Obviously, there will be a lot of great players at the tournament this weekend from all over Europe. Some of them are potential recruits for St. Bonaventure next year, while with others, we want to establish connections for the future, especially with younger players,” Wojnarowski told Meridian Sport.
He spoke about his decision to leave journalism and commit to a new role at St. Bonaventure.
“I’ve been fortunate to build a career beyond anything I could have imagined. I’m proud of the work I’ve done and the people I’ve worked with, but I don’t spend too much time looking back. Right now, my focus is on St. Bonaventure—on rebuilding a championship-caliber team and helping our players develop.”
Shams Charania, who was once his protégé and later his rival in breaking major NBA news, took his place at ESPN.
“Yes, the world moves on without you. He’s doing great, he’s hardworking, and I hope he has a career as fulfilling as mine has been. ESPN is an incredible place to work, with immense resources and great people. I hope he enjoys it there as much as I did.”
Wojnarowski also spoke about Nikola Jokić’s rise in the NBA.
“Jokić has redefined the role of a center in the NBA—he’s shown that you don’t need to talk much, but rather let your game do the talking. He rarely speaks about himself, always emphasizes the team, and that’s truly admirable. Just last night, for example, he set a historic record, becoming the first player in NBA history to record a 30-point, 20-rebound, and 20-assist game. It’s incredible—not just that he became the best player in the world, but the way he did it.”
Jokić is not someone who seeks the spotlight.
“I think there are very few players of his stature about whom the American public knows so little—but that’s exactly how he wanted it. He stayed focused on the game and the team. Still, he was incredibly kind and humble in Denver, where everyone in the organization loved him. When you talk to his teammates and coaches who have worked with him, they all say the same thing—there’s never been anyone quite like him. His story is unique—a second-round draft pick, a body type that many doubted, and a style of play that people struggled to envision at this level. And yet, not only did he become the best player in the world, but he may also be one of the greatest centers in basketball history. He’s truly a phenomenon.”
He also touched on the NBA’s potential expansion into Europe and the possibility of creating a European league of its own.
“I don’t know much beyond what I’ve read and seen. I think it could be valuable. I believe it’s only a matter of time before the NBA has teams in Europe. Right now, the league is focused on expanding to a few more cities in North America, but I do think we’ll see NBA franchises in Europe in the future. Maybe this is the first step.
That said, I don’t know that European basketball needs to be ‘Americanized.’ The FIBA game is beautiful in its own way. The NBA has already adopted a lot of FIBA elements, as well as international talent, and that has benefited the league. The Denver Nuggets play in a way that reflects Jokić’s style. Giannis, Dončić, and a string of MVPs over the past five or six years have been international players, and this year, even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Canada could win MVP.”
With the growing influence of international players and more talent moving overseas to the NBA or NCAA, it is expected that more international coaches will also find roles in the U.S. in the future.
“Absolutely. Darko Rajaković became an NBA head coach because Toronto wanted to develop a young team, and who did they hire? A Serbian coach who understands player development. It used to be that American coaches would come to Europe to teach basketball, and now it’s European coaches bringing their knowledge to the U.S. That’s an incredible shift.”
He also talked about his longtime friend, İsmail Şenol, who followed a similar path, moving from journalism to a front-office role at Anadolu Efes.
“He’s also an excellent journalist, one of the best in Europe, and he went to Efes. We used to exchange notes all the time. Our lives have changed dramatically. I think his life has changed even more drastically. I wouldn’t compare the role of a general manager at St. Bonaventure to his job at Efes. His responsibilities are much broader—more people, bigger stakes. Our program is incredibly important to us, but I work under our head coach. İsmail… I’m proud of him,” Wojnarowski concluded.