'Does Anyone Else Miss Woj?': Giannis Antetokounmpo Shades ESPN for Sensationalist Reporting Tactics

Giannis Voices What Many Feel About Sports Reporting Legend

Antetokounmpo’s post gets its punch from the fact that it expresses a genuine feeling of many in the sports media community. A reporter and sports journalist since 1986, Wojnarowski joined ESPN in 2017, defecting from Yahaoo Sports. In September 2024, with three years and $20 million left on his contract, he announced his retirement, a development that surprised and saddened many fans and fellow reporters.

At least in part, Wojnarowski left his ESPN job in order to become general manager of the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team, hoping to give the school a higher profile – athletically and academically – by maintaining a competitive program.

Since Wojnarowski’s departure, his former Yahoo Sports protege Shams Charania has taken over his duties. At the time of the former’s retirement, Charania served as his biggest rival in the race to break the biggest stories. At ESPN Charania has been perhaps the most reliable breaking news reporter in the world of sports.

Nonetheless, Wojnarowski’s absence is still felt – by Antetokounmpo, for one, and by countless others. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter replied to Giannis’ post in kind.

Milwaukee Bucks Fans Have Dealt with a Lot of S— from ESPN in Recent Years

Despite the quality of his work, Charania’s association with ESPN does not help his standing among those who have grown wary of the network’s coverage habits.

Over the years, ESPN has veered more and more toward sensationalism. This accusation applies especially to its televised shows, which feature a cast of talking heads with terrible takes (Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins come to mind).

The subject: sports. The style: outrage and outrageousness. Often, ESPN talk shows border on farce.

This character has bled into aspects of its basic reporting, ever-focused on the next jaw-dropping blockbuster or shocking drama.  If that’s what generates clicks, it’s unfair to hold big brands like ESPN to standards completely foreign to other, less prominent outlets. Still, the shift is palpable.

Under the influence of Disney executives, who’s to say that ESPN would have handled recent Giannis speculation any differently with Woj at the helm?

Be that as it may, Antetokounmpo’s subtle tweet hit home with the Milwaukee Bucks fanbase. For years now, ever since the Bucks won the 2021 title, fans have had to hear constant rumination on a possible Giannis trade request. Much of that is due to the team’s playoff shortcomings – three consecutive first-round exits – but it can be tiresome.

To have such rumors withered for now, at the fever pitch of their circulation, is a twist Bucks fans shouldn’t be blamed for gloating over. Giannis is well-attuned to the sentiments of his city.