While NBA fans (understandably) spent Thursday glued to their phones for any tiny morsel of trade deadline news, there was another somewhat overlooked battle that seemed to generate just as much intensity. Forget whether any specific team boosted (or worsened) their chances at a title. Basketball fans were riveted by a back-and-forth scoop-off as news continued to break.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania, a former colleague of ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski in the scoop-trading business, entered the day as a massive underdog. Up until now, Wojnarowski was the undisputed king. He’s a man with over 5 million Twitter followers because he seemingly has a connection to anyone in the NBA with a pulse.
For the first time ever, it appears Charania might have the upper hand (at least today).
Trades broken today:
11 — Shams
8 — WojWe have a new king. pic.twitter.com/A4oT9sIs8w
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 10, 2022
For those counting at home, this is indeed The Student defeating The Master. Daniel LaRusso, eat your heart out. Mr. Miyagi, I’m sorry. I mean no disrespect.
Not only did Charania break more NBA deals first during the deadline — but he also had the most critical deal first:
The move that sent James Harden to Philadelphia and Ben Simmons to Brooklyn.
BREAKING: The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are finalizing trade sending James Harden for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and draft picks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 10, 2022
I don’t know what this says about the state of social media in 2022 that this horse race becomes something we have to track when it comes to reporting. Never mind that a platform like Twitter has only about 20 percent of the active U.S. population registered (not all of which are genuine profiles with real people). I’m not smart enough for that sort of introspection. Okay, I am, but that’s beside the point. We’re having fun here, alright?
New #NBATradeDeadline idea: Woj vs Shams on a game show. They have to press a buzzer to announce trades. Winner gets a million.
— Greg (@g_r_e_g______) February 10, 2022
Shams vs. Woj game 7 who you taking?
— Trae Rodgers (@rodgerstrae) February 10, 2022
Woj vs Shams the next few hours pic.twitter.com/aGt81h9B5d
— Maybe: Jacoby (@Getthebagcoach) February 10, 2022
Me on my phone watching Shams vs Woj on #NBATradeDeadline pic.twitter.com/qrcLHfXRfE
— Ashton Morris (@ashtonmorris1) February 10, 2022
On a gloomy, cold February day in early 2022 (Common Era), Charania seized the crown of NBA Twitter through his most trusted, legendary weapon: Excali-Phone. A new era of information trading set upon the basketball social media populace.
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