Shams Charania is a Senior NBA Insider at ESPN, breaking major news across the NBA, NBA G-League, and other basketball-related coverage. Widely regarded as one of the leading voices in sports journalism, Charania‘s exclusive reporting, insider access, and deep understanding of the game make him one of the most trusted figures in the industry.

Charania joined ESPN as an NBA Insider in October 2024 and frequently appears on a variety of ESPN programs, including NBA Today, NBA Countdown, First Take, The Pat McAfee Show, SportsCenter and Get Up.

Prior to joining ESPN, Charania was a regular contributor on FanDuel TV starting in October 2022. Charania also worked at The Athletic and Stadium as a Senior NBA Insider, Writer and Analyst from August 2018, where he quickly established himself as a top-tier reporter covering breaking news, player transactions, and the latest developments surrounding the NBA. Previous stops for Charania include Yahoo! Sports, RealGM and ChicagoNow.

Charania has received several accolades for his contributions to sports journalism, including placing first in the news category of the 2024 Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest, having been recognized for his reporting on the Minnesota Timberwolves ownership saga.

On February 2, 2025, Charania made headlines, famously breaking the news that the Los Angeles Lakers were acquiring Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis in the middle of the night ET, shocking the NBA landscape.

Known for his unmatched reporting accuracy and swift delivery, Charania has built a loyal following on social media, where his insights and breaking news continue to have a significant impact on fans, teams, and executives alike.

A native of Chicago, Ill., Charania graduated from Loyola University in 2017.

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