The battle between ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania for the title of the NBA’s top scoop man took another twist overnight Tuesday when the Los Angeles Clippers traded for Sixers star James Harden.
Usually when huge trades like this one break, Woj and Shams report the details within seconds of one another. This one, however, went differently. Wojnarowski first tweeted that Harden was headed to the Clippers just after 2 a.m. ET, and Charania didn’t chime in for more than a half-hour before eventually confirming the deal was happening.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Given the time of the deal, we can only assume that Charania had fallen asleep before the trade details were finalized. That would be normal for the rest of the population, but given Charania’s robot-like work ethic, it took some fans by surprise. Charania revealed earlier this year that he averages around 17 hours of screen time per day, a number that pushes closer to 20 around the trade deadline and free agency.
Potentially sleeping through the Harden trade has, unsurprisingly created plenty of memes about the Woj/Shams rivalry. Charania may never voluntarily sleep again.
I just know Shams is gonna have a heart attack when he wakes up and gets the notification. Dude will never sleep again.
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) October 31, 2023
Shams must be asleep? Lol
— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) October 31, 2023
Shams is asleep man. Woj just dropped a nuke and he’s nowhere to be seen
— Shawn (@shawnumo) October 31, 2023
Shams was having nightmares about Woj breaking moves before him and woke up to Woj breaking the harden deal. Tough business
— kyle (@knicks_tape99) October 31, 2023
Woj and shams really not allowed to sleep. NBA news will happen at any hour lol
— Maine (@ThaMaineEvent) October 31, 2023
woj to shams pic.twitter.com/YaBqZOLITj
— Bones Hyland enjoyer (@BootsMcGuinness) October 31, 2023
