It would be the biggest “Woj bomb” since Adrian Wojnarowski announced his retirement from journalism. But Adam Schefter could be a candidate to replace Wojnarowski as ESPN’s senior NBA insider, Front Office Sports has learned.
Under this fascinating scenario, the top NFL news-breaker would cover both the NFL and NBA as what a source called the “Ultimate Insider.” Schefter, ESPN’s senior NFL insider, has previously moonlighted as a sideline reporter during NBA telecasts.
To be clear, we’re a long way from this happening. But there’s mutual interest, per multiple sources. Another top-ranking source shot down the rumor, flatly saying Schefter is not a candidate. The tireless Schefter loves his current role at ESPN. It’s an open question whether he’d be willing to take on such a time-consuming dual role. It would probably take a significant raise. Schefter signed a new contract in 2022 that pays him $9 million a year, according to the New York Post.
The 57-year-old ranks as the most connected, most-followed insider in U.S. sports. Schefter boasts 11.2 million followers on X/Twitter vs. 6.5 million for the 55-year-old Wojnarowski, 4.6 million for Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, and 1.2 million for Fox’s Jay Glazer.
The notion of Schefter covering the NBA is not as outlandish as many think at first glance. Schefter loves news-breaking more than anything else. Reporting on the biggest stories in the two most important sports leagues in ESPN’s universe would be the type of challenge he lives for.
“Adam’s the best insider there is; the best who’s ever done it,” noted one source. “If you’re going to replace [Woj], why not think about doing it with the best?”
As far back as 2016, Peter King of Sports Illustrated reported that Schefter had a “closet addiction” to the NBA, playing NBA daily fantasy games and keeping tabs on players (Schefter even had a clause written into his contract that would allow him to occasionally work as a sideline reporter for ESPN’s hoops coverage). He made his “crossover” debut as an NBA sideline reporter during a Knicks vs. Thunder telecast in 2017.
Don’t forget Schefter’s ESPN mentor, the late Chris Mortensen, was a two-sport insider. Mortensen started his career as a top MLB reporter before switching to the NFL at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, then becoming ESPN’s top football insider. Reporting is different than hosting or commentating, but other ESPN talent, like Mike Greenberg, have successfully covered both the NFL and NBA. Greenberg took over hosting duties on Sunday NFL Countdown this year after previously hosting NBA Countdown. Stephen A. Smith, ESPN’s biggest star, recently told FOS he’d like to contribute to his network’s Monday Night Football coverage. Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content, is pushing a strategy to maximize the air time and influence of the company’s biggest personalities.
ESPN’s Existing NBA Team
Schefter wouldn’t be on his own, either. On the NBA beat, he would be supported by ESPN’s team of NBA reporters, including Brian Windhorst, Ramona Shelburne, Marc J. Spears, Tim Bontemps, and Bobby Marks. The addition of the high-profile Schefter would also build more buzz around ESPN’s NBA coverage as TNT Sports rolls out what’s likely to be its final year of NBA programming, and NBC Sports and Amazon Prime Video prepare for their coverage starting in the 2025–2026 season.
Then again, covering the NFL or NBA alone is a 24/7 job—much less both. It would be hard for anybody, even superman Schefter, to cover both leagues. He’s two years older than Wojnarowski. When his colleague left journalism to return to his alma mater at St. Bonaventure, Schefter delivered an emotional tribute to his friend and the obsessive 24/7 lifestyle required of insiders.
ESPN is already whiteboarding how it will cover its first Super Bowls after the 2026 and 2030 seasons, according to Magnus. Does ESPN want Schefter distracted by the NBA when it’s all-hands-on-deck for its first two Super Bowls?
Another source cautioned Schefter’s name could be popping up from ESPN brainstorming sessions. The possibility of the NFL reporter covering both leagues is just one of many options on the table as ESPN tries to fill the Woj-sized hole in its coverage. The sports media giant could pursue pending free-agent insiders Shams Charania and Chris Haynes. But NBC and Prime are also interested in the telegenic, 30-year-old Charania. Or ESPN could simply continue its scoops-by-committee approach with Windhorst, Shelburne, Spears, Bontemps, and Marks. (The network recently laid off longtime hoops reporter Zach Lowe.)
Either way, ESPN seems to be thinking outside the box as the tip-off of the NBA’s 2024–2025 season draws near. The Athletic reported Saturday that MLB insider Jeff Passan is also under consideration to switch from baseball to basketball and cover Woj’s old NBA beat.
Schefter joined ESPN in 2009 after making his bones as an NFL insider at NFL Network and The Denver Post. He’s since become a staple of ESPN’s NFL coverage on Sunday Night Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, NFL Live, and the network’s annual coverage of the NFL draft.
ESPN declined to comment for this story.
