EXPOSING Wojnarowski: The Dark Secret Of NBA's Biggest Insider
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- Опубліковано 14 сер 2022
- At 2:30pm Eastern time on August 8th, Chams Charania posted a breaking news story about KD’s ultimatum.
So naturally, the entire sports media exploded, and they all wanted to get their takes out.
That is everyone except ESPN. The largest sports news outlet in the world. The ones that are always first in this neverending race to share info.
They didn’t talk about it, nor mentioned it on their social media platforms for almost 6 hours.
Finally at 8:23, a story comes out on ESPN.com with a suspiciously boring title.
Joe Tsai voices support for the front office and coaches in the wake of Kevin Durant's trade demands. No ultimatum, no mention of Durant forcing the owner to pick between him and Sean Marks and Steve Nash, none of that. As if they don’t even want you to see this info.
Now, why would they do that?
The answer to this question will also expose just how much power Adrian Wojnarowski has at ESPN, and some of his dark secrets of the way he operates.
Buckle up for this Woj Bomb. What up everybody, my name is Stefan and this is Heat Check. Let’s get into it.
To understand how Adrian single handedly stopped the entire ESPN network from talking about breaking news for like half a day, I need to show you just how much power he has had for a long time.
Woj earned the respect of the NBA world through his sharp columns, providing a different angle on things. But what made him a superstar is how he cultivated connections and relationships with agents and front office members.
He would call and text them not just for inside scoops, but to genuinely ask how they’re doing, family talks, all of that. This made a lot of people into his sources.
Even early on, Wojnarowski noticed the San Antonio franchise as one that produces a ton of talent that move on to become coaches or front office members of teams around the league.
So he focused on developing relationships with people around this organization.
Just take a look at the Spurs mafia stemming from Pop. These are all high profile people scattered at about a third of the teams in the league. Hey there’s Sean Marks. We’ll get back to him later.
This connection with the Spurs franchise along with the relationships that Woj has with people signed to the same agency as him, which is the CAA, means that he has access to virtually any team in the league.
The ones who consistently give him valuable info, get a favorable treatment in his columns and tweets. The ones who ghost him however get blasted by Adrian. Just ask Lebron James.
The King and his agent Rich Paul, already had their guy in the media who they worked with and pushed their narrative through.
A reporter who went to the same school as Lebron and followed him all throughout his Cleveland and Miami days. That reporter is Brian Windhorst.
So every attempt from Woj to get to James and his camp got rejected.
Adrian would then go on a revenge tour writing a ton of pieces throughout the years criticizing Lebron for failing to deliver in the clutch, his ego and attitude during the 2004 Olympics, being soft, and even an All Star Game performance.
In 2007 James literally dragged this team all the way to the finals. To this day one of his greatest accomplishments. Despite clearly being overmatch, and despite Lebron’s heroics during the entire season, Woj wrote this during the finals:
“We are witnesses, all right. We are witnesses to the truth that James is trailing Dwyane Wade as the sport's best young superstar, a gap that he didn't close in these finals.”
Then, between 2008 and 2010 Woj wrote 10 columns about Lebron’s free agency mentioning different possibilities and teams, based on no real information.
Just look at this: In 08 he wrote that the Detroit Pistons were the favorites to get James at the end of his contract which was 2 years later. This was the most ridiculous statement, although he consistently had sloppy and uninformed takes about this. Just a week before the king chose Miami, Adrian wrote that “the Chicago Bulls are still the team to beat, with Cleveland a close second and New Jersey the looming wild card”.
This is without a doubt the most incorrect reporting on a consistent basis in his career.
But let’s get back to that Detroit Pistons text to show you what happens when people do feed him some info.
This entire piece is using James to add even more flashiness on the praises that Woj is sending towards Joe Dumars the GM at the time.
Despite the fact that the Allen Iverson trade was a disaster, and Detroit transformed from a conference finals team to reaching the bottom of the east - mainly due to a series of horrible decisions by Dumars, Woj would never write a single word criticizing him.
Instead, he chose words like: Slowly, surely, Dumars is regenerating the Pistons again.
When this went live, Detroit finished 39-43 and the season after they went 27-55. Then 30-52, 25-41, 29-53. You get the point. - Спорт
*BIZARRE Basketball Moments That Will NEVER Happen Again* ua-cam.com/video/W0Fwsb9h_bg/v-deo.html
The KD trade story was never breaking news (cuz nothing happened with it!!) and ESPN was smart to not bite the bait like all the talking heads. Just like “Ben Simmons is about to take the court with the Brooklyn Nets & the Nets will be scary” 😂
before I even watch, the title should be Woj Expojed
You deserve top comment lmao
I came to type this lmao brilliant
Get this man to the top ASAP
Lol that's good
Bravo
Woj is basically the PR rep for nba teams. Currently he’s getting paid behind the scenes to do PR for the nets. On the flip side shams is the mouthpiece for the players. Shams will never criticize the players. Woj will never criticize the organization. Case in point the most recent shams report about Ben Simmons where he denied Ben Simmons leaving the group chat with the nets. We don’t know if that’s true or not. Shams refuting the report doesn’t mean much to me anymore considering he never holds the players accountable
Do you have any additional proof that Woj is working with the Nets? This is some spicy stuff
It ain’t no evidence that support the claim that Ben Simmons left the nets group chat
@@dreamsoda897 I mean it’s probably like schefter where he’s a mouth piece for whoever gives him the story if I was assuming
Shams is signed to the same umbrella organization as rich Paul and clutch sports and ben is a client of clutch sports.
Not really the case.
Woj gets into bed with certain organizations and players, all dependent on who will give him the scoop. He's in bed with the Nets, always gives them super favorable reporting and trashed everyone against them. However, when the Suns didn't extend Ayton he gave super favorable reporting to Ayton and criticized the Suns.
1:04 Perfect use right here
"This video took a lot of effort and research"
I'm sure it took a lot more than that.
My fullest respects. This channel just hit another level…
Woj is about to get into contact with Stefan to get him to remove this video... then Stefan will get a job at ESPN in return. BOOM, the Stefan Heat Check master plan.
It's rare that someone on UA-cam conducts such a thorough and in-depth analysis! Keep up the good work!
its not rare at all there are plenty of great youtube content creators man but i do agree this video was great!
He stole the idea off basketball Illuminati podcast
If you liked this, check Basketball Examined. ;)
@@HeatCheck since this isn't your theory, will you cite the people who put you on this information? Seems fair since it's not your original research.
Well researched and produced video. So cool to see your skills sharpen and expand
Definitely because of skill share ;)
surely he got some leaks from someone 😉
Next should be about Rich Paul's connections.
You did a great job telling this story. There were lots of ways to do it but you nailed it!
no replys??
Yo! casey
@@ak_buckets7962 hey AK!
Am hoops. What's up. You are one of the favorites for nba videos. This guy too.
@@alectateformayor5129 thanks man!
I've watched you for a long time but this one is a top-notch video. Very intriguing subject, well written script and amazing editing skills. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you sir!
FACTSSSSSSS!!!
The Ben Simmons saga is when I knew WOJ was a LIER.
Absolutely. I've seen every NBA topic possible discussed but never imagined I'd see this. Very interesting.
Yea, really good journalism here
Lol shut up. This whole account is clickbait. I’ve reported these made up videos many times
A great well made video!
I didnt even feel like it was 10 minutes long, no bullshit, no long-ass intros or outros, straight to the point as always 👌
Toronto is one of if not the only team who's draft Pick woj doesn't report before the pick actually happens.. had no idea some GMs leak stuff to get In good with woj...
Perception is big in the NBA. more so than other leagues I feel.
Miami too, as a Heat fan Woj barely gets any rumors from Miami right or breaks them at all. Recent case in point him saying that Lamarcus Aldrige was a lock to sign in Miami in 2021 but went to the Nets instead.
@@LiterallyRyanGosling_ It’s because the Heat are more well connected to Windhorst.
It’s because Toronto is a good organisation and it’s also Canadian
@@EezoTheChezo good organizations spring leaks too. Odds are the fact that they're Canadian has more to do with it. Its more likely for a Canadian news source to have the insiders.
Was skeptical going into this video because of the painted good picture of Woj, but it was a greatly researched video that exposed the truth I had no idea about. Very well done video.
Danmnmmm what I love here it is the time you take to research (Woj and Spurs thing) and be unique to create your content for us is so solid. Salute u from Dominican Republic 🇩🇴
Que Dios bendiga a RD 💜💜
I always thought something was off with this man, like a modern dictator-kind-of attitude. Arrogant but without seeming so. Thank you for the good work surrounding him!
Well, he sent "f--k you" to a Republican senator in an email and was suspended by ESPN as a result. He's definitely not as innocent as he looks.
An NBA reporter talking out of his ass? Shocking.
Hes like a psychopath addicted to being “the breaking news guy”😂😂
He doesn’t like not being the center / first person
How is he a dictator just giving free agency and trade news ? Lol
This explains why Woj blocked me on Twitter when I criticised his reporting on the Harden to Philly trade stuff saying he was completely wrong and way off on everything. Great video!
Sure „thats why“ lmao
stop acting like he knows that you exist
@@spurs_7798 pretty sure guys see and read your comments 🤣 I been blocked by d Angelo Russell for calling him a snitch when he was on my lakers it has nothing to do with knowing you
@@thekingofla1204 "my lakers" lmao
@@MrE_ dude what ? Dude liked his own commented 🤣🤣🤣👎🏾
@@spurs_7798 he literally blocked me directly after the only ever time I mentioned him in a tweet. Within like an hour of me tweeting it. The actual human being named Adrian Wojnarowski saw my tweet, hit the block button and moved on with his day. It’s just a fact bro I don’t know what else to say. I’m not bragging. It’s kind of annoying actually as now I can’t see any Woj bomb tweets when trades and other NBA news happens.
Hopefully they don't try and mess with your channel after this! Good work explaining how Woj manipulates this side of basketball
You helped the nba get rid of RBthebreakthrough. A damn shame
This is great reporting
Woj always has the look in his face like he just farted in front of his crush and is disappointed in himself.
This really stuck out in my mind cuz because I remember arguing with my buddy that Windhorst was reporting the trade talks, yet Woj wasn't, and that I wasn't gonna doubt Woj given his track record. After the trade went down I thought it was super bizarre that Woj was so "wrong". That all makes a ton of sense now.
This is one of your best videos imo. The “exposed” in your title is not click bait at all, but I thought it would be. Great job finding all this info!
I’m glad it wasn’t and eventually gave in lol. Whenever I see these titles I’m extremely hesitant.
You Nailed Woj to the Cross.
Wow amazing video Heat Check. Never seen you doing this type of videos. Keep doing this type of content. Amazing data, clear narrative. Phenomenal!
Great video! I’m liking this kind of video that provides a more complete picture of how different people within the NBA world operate
I like this format of storytelling very much. Keep it up and I would love to see more of these!
I really like this content bro no long ads, intros, side bars just right to the content as seems like you actually took time and digged deep into WOJ’s way of work and the power he has I definitely was interested you rarely hear people talk about the behind he scenes we love it keep going bro
I remember during the LeBron's decision I was paying close attention as a Knicks fan. I was following Alan Haun who covered the Knicks for a NJ paper at the time. He broke the story of James going to Miami. ESPN later reported their story and gave all the credit to themselves as breaking the news. They just pretend that nab reporting doesn't exist outside ESPN. Stugotz had a great rant a few weeks ago about Woj and how Brian Windhorst is forced to NOT break NBA stories. Great video!
Can you send the link on Stugotz and Brian Windhorst video here?
I remember Stephen A telling everyone he was going to Miami weeks before the decision
I remember reading an amazing article in the Stars and Stripes when I was in Afghanistan in 2010. As a Heat fan, I just wanted to keep Wade during that offseason and wasn’t even banking on getting James, yet alone Bosh.
Then I read an article explaining how the Heat were making moves and slowly creeping into contention.
3 days later, the Decision happened and I woke up to the greatest news a Heat fan could wake up to.
So many people on that small base were PISSED that day. I wasn’t. Haha!
Because ESPN donated $1 million to the boys & girls club, for the "Decision"
Stephen A definitely reported that first
You forgot to mention Quicken loans (Dan Gilbert company) sponsors his show, so he was putting extra effort in Lebron slander and doing PR for cavaliers.
Gotta say this video really pulled me in more so than some other videos you’ve made. This type of matters definitely need to be exposed.
Great video bro. Such in depth reporting. I k knew Woj was biased but completely forgot about dumars and the spurs connection.
Great video, insightful and informative. i felt the extra time and effort on this one. Keep it up!
I love well researched, properly edited, and thorough work. I’ve been watching for years and this is one of your best videos
Excellent video my guy, really good investigative work!
The same is true of Adam Shafter. A lot of former ESPN reporters have talked about how they have to attached Shafter or Woj to their stories even if they get the information first through their own sources. ESPN actively wants viewers to see Shafter and Woj as more creditable than other reporters even if it means cutting down their other reporters credibility
Both nba and nfl and espn plants nothing else
Try English holy shit
I think Adam is just on demon time and don't give af lol
@@kushgod3069 naw he gives a shit he likes money and will push any narrative the league tells him to
You could easily just view that as a credibility issue. Whether its deserved or not, people see their names as credible and are more likely to buy in when they see them. Its also entirely plausible that these reporters were merely given access to sources through Schefter or Woj, who oversee vast, league wide contact networks. If Woj or Schefter is going on air, they're not likely gonna be fielding calls or emails from their sources, are they?
I have a much larger issue that bias flavors the reports rather than who passes the reports along. I wouldn't take the word of these reporters as fact when we're calling into question the journalistic integrity of people who they're supposedly writing stories for, would you? Hell of a catch 22.
Great idea for a video. Shows people even when it comes to sports media you can't believe everything you hear. Thank you for shedding some light on how the front offices and media are in cahoots and spread the narrative they want to be known.
Crazy how powerful a change of words is lol
@@TexxVlogz huh?
This is a interesting topic. Salute to the researching. Well done! Keep up the good work!
Regular watcher here, this is your best video by far. I enjoyed this thoroughly :))
Great format, keep it up
I'm impressed by this video journalism and can't leave out that awesome studio, room, or whatever that is behind you. lol
Fantastic video. I’m a pretty avid fan and I didn’t know some of this stuff.
Keep it up this was great.
Amazing video, would love this as a series.
The man basically fired coach Vogel himself on twitter, showing absolutely no respect or human decency
Great video...I really love how you brought receipts
Cause sometimes his trading scoops are super fishy
Long time subscriber here and have to comment to say this was a beautiful video. You always do game breakdowns, but we would love to see more juicy content like this! Keep up the good work buddy!
Wow, this might be your best video yet, this is an eye-opening, I always wonder how Woj gets the stories first, thank you for this..
Your passion for this game really shows in this amazing piece of content. Deep and insightful.. You were made for this. Great work from beginning to end.
I'm a lifelong Spurs fan and I was a bit offended when you referred to the Pop tree as the Spurs Mafia but only a bit since I do understand your point - and it does make sense. This one certainly took a lot of effort, especially how you carefully had chosen your words. Love to see more of this.
Love when you do longer videos. Your content is on point
Came from through the wire, and I’m here to stay, keep up the good work
this was a 10 minute video? damn it felt short. Super well made--good job! an intriguing and fresh topic. Learned things about Woj I didn't know of before--just thought he had good insight into things didn't know it was through networks and tactics like this. Also didn't know NBA did a sneaky investigation into this to find out who was leaking the info. Coool!!
this so far is the best video you uploaded! Cheers!
Love this video format, keep it coming 🔥
Keep this kind of long videos !! Appreciate your work buddy
Great work!!!! You're really onto something here and I hope hoops channels keep pulling this thread. Woj isn't a bad guy at all but he def has a crafted persona developed by ESPN to be their "trade insider". It's not that different from a WWF wrestler who is given a character to play by management.
This was fantastic! What a treat to have you doing videos like these in the off-season. I knew about Woj's past with LeBron & I assumed he got the James Harden trade wrong because Simmons' agent Rich Paul meddled behind the scenes and Windy got the scoop instead. But this angle is one I did not think of and quite frankly should have. It makes perfect sense for Woj to protect Sean Marks from the bad press of a botched Big 3 experiment.
Amazing video its just keeps getting better!
Brilliant video could be a long time classic that'll change the NBA media .. Adrian gonna be jumping over this haha. The level of research into this is amazing, great effort
Very interesting. Good work. Starting to see how those seats get filled by people who seem pretty clueless about basketball.
This is something every NBA fan should watch. Great work!
Great video, one of your best!
Great video and content! Thanks!
Woj is a brand for ESPN. Since he didn't release the info first, they wanted time to pass because they definitely never want woj to be second. They'll even tell people like Windy not to release info before woj
Yeah because of the contract that they given $7 million year contract. So it looks bad if your highest paid NBA senior writer is not delivering the news instead of a junior reporter
Really good job on this one. Keep up the great work.
ive been a long time subscriber..and you really are somethin bro..keep it up
Great content in between the seasons! Well done!
Always had weird vibes about Woj and the mania about being the first to report things. Lost a lot of respect when he tweeted out that Vogel was going to be fired, when he knew Vogel himself hadn't been told. The Lakers organization shoulders most of the blame for that but Woj isn't just some automaton. He's a person--a person who made a decision to send something like that out. So disrespectful.
He is like a dictator but in that case we should pay attention whom he surrounded himself with because dictators are ALWAYS backed up with dangerous, horrific people.
You think its any more professional for Vogel to take an interview a couple weeks before the end of the season with Bill Oram where he pins all the blame on the front office and Russel Westbrook? Seems as good a way to get shitcanned as embarrassingly as possible if you ask me.
The Lakers are a dumpster fire, from top to bottom.
@@fenixchief7 Yeah I understand what you’re saying but I don’t man, I remember that interview and didn’t think there was anything wild in it. Even if there was, it’s sort of beside the point. Any (possible) bad behavior by Vogel doesn’t excuse or validate bad behavior by Wojnarowski.
Excellent video. I peeped when Woj and Windhorst was going back and forth. Windhorst is fighting for the top spot for sure. It’s always political.
I love this style of video from you!!!
I like your season updates, but this video is nice bro. You should keep doing in depth vids, you do this style very well.
This was excellent, in the same vein as Basketball Examined (no longer producing videos). We need youtubers calling this stuff out, because mainstream media is biased.
Super interesting, makes sense, and kind of got that inclination after the whole Windy Nets James fiasco
Your investigative effort has not gone unnoticed excellent job and great production! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I watch a lot of you videos, but this has to be one of my favourites! Effort well spent
I just have one problem with the video. I wanted it to keep going
Thank you for this
Woj also did PR for Neil Olshey when the Blazers fired Olshey. He defended Olshey when Olshey was too passive and failed to build around Lillard.
Glad someone mentioned this, was some weird shit
nice and informative as usual bro, keep it up!
Thanks for the info! Windy now deserves my support.. I had no idea this was going on.. I’m sure it affects the betting line..
If you think Draymond was corny talking about "new media", this is what he's talking about. A nerd in power is truly terrifying.
Bruuuh anyone with power is terrifying, loool ur just scared of nerds 🤣🤣🤣
😂😂
@@hunterzolomon1303 Lmao
Did you peak in High School?
So this guy is probably responsible for majority of all the lebron haters lol... i mean there are litetally haters who talk about bron more than actual fans... like wtf... i used to hate on Kobe but not so much as to talk about him all the time
*Bronsexual* Bron·sex·u·al
/ˈbronsekSH(o͞o)əl/
_adjective_
used to describe an extremist who speaks about Lebron James, whether it be positive or negative
_noun_
1. Anybody who is a huge fan of Lebron James or dickriding LeBron James. They become fans of any team LeBron James plays for. These type of individuals thinks that LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan.
2. An annoying LeBron James fanboy who appears to be a LeBron hater for everybody. These type of individuals are actively spouting non-sense LeBron stats or any LBJ career lows from his rookie year up to his 8 point game in any non-LBJ related topics.
3. Any Individual that dickrides or is a bandwagon fan of Lebron James. They will make outrageous claims that Lebron is the best player of all time without proper proof or evidence.
4. Any person who denies or puts down Lebron James’ talent no matter what. Usually Michael Jordan fans
_Notable Bronsexuals:_
Skip Bayless
Shannon Sharpe
Brian Windhorst
Anyone who is triggered by this comment
I didn´t like Lebron before I knew about Woj. You just question the accuracy of each report. It seems like he has no life, no family and is bonding 24/7 with team exec
@@MrE_ spot on... I'm a big fan of Lebron but I can't really say he's the goat, he disappointed at times but I'm still a fan.. I used to be a Jordan fan (who isn't?) but I'm too annoyed of diehard Jordan fans and their absence of logic to say Jordan's the goat tho... and he probably isn't anyway... I like Kareem to be honest
Lol pathetic.
Yea, it's cuz of woj that people criticize LeBron.
It couldn't be because people have brains
@@PrivateJoker0119 steph curry the goat he singlehandedly evolved the game and the future of the league is a bunch of steph curry emulators
As a Woj fan since his Yahoo Sports days, this video shocked me into the realities behind the NBA’s best “scooper”. Thanks for the enlightenment! Been a Heat Check fan for a while 😀✌️
Love the vid, keep it up!
Now doing investigative reporting, too. Look at you dude! Good stuff.
How about the dark side of the referees?? There sure is something happening there.
Liked and subscribed. Good stuff man
This was very informative. Good stuff
Definitely subscribed after this video, A+ content. Strange that when I tried sharing it with my friends overseas it said that this particular video was banned in their country but they can watch all your other videos. Does Woj have this much power??
This dude is shady….great work my man! This is some amazing in depth research ! Keep it up 👍
Love the channell bro
Woah, Nice more reason to subscribe to your channel, this really a Heat Check! Looking forward for more this kind of nba stories!
woah this is deep. Bold take, kudos to this channel. I really thought woj is just a good insider. In fact, he really is a great insider and manipulator.
The only time Woj gets something right is if it's already/currently happening. Other than that he likes to go around in circles without any substance.
awesome dude... Ive had this feeling for a while now about Woj, , but this vid so well researched and put together....
Great video. Keep it up!
In my humble opinion I really don't care about the ESPN and other big sources, i understand that they have a business to run, but they talk so much BS and only care about their ratings. I love to hear from people who really care about the sport
Makes you appreciate Windhorst so much more, he's kept it real and has a better track record of being accurate
I’m sure McDonald’s also appreciates him
@@manonthemoon379 why y’all weirdos so obsessed with making jokes about some guy who don’t even kno u exist
Windhorst is just as bad, they all do the same thing. Do you think Windhorst writes negatively about LeBron or his associates? Hell no. Does he right negatively about Curry and the Warriors, or Durant? You bet. It's all a game, don't believe everything you hear, and don't trust anyone implicitly.
I love your videos, but this is looking like the best one right here
Great video I appreciate the research that went to this video. I had no idea that Woj has so many connections. This is going to effect not just how I see Woj and ESPN, but the NBA as a whole. Awesome job, man 👏
Hey heat check I heard from the through the wire podcast that you were trying to get more out there during the summer where all nba content creators are in a slump when it comes to views. I think telling stories like this is the perfect way. Really enjoyed it hope to see more
You don’t have to 🍆🚴♂️ him now. There are a lot of nba content creators making great vids this off season.
This bout to go viral
Talk about a Heat Check... I love highlights and all, but this is pure gold. Keep it up.
Great video, loved the suspenseful intro lol we need some more vids like this