Latest news with #Charania
Indianapolis Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Pacers reportedly not on Christmas Day schedule; only 2 teams have gone longer without playing
The Pacers will reportedly not be involved in the NBA's Christmas Day schedule again this year despite their NBA Finals run. Presumably, that marks the first sign of the effect of All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton's torn Achilles tendon will have on the Pacers' level of national television exposure in the 2025-26 season. ESPN's Shams Charania posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account Friday that there will be five games played on Dec. 25, all nationally televised on ABC, ESPN. According to Charania, the New York Knicks will host the Cleveland Cavaliers in the only game involving Eastern Conference teams. The Pacers beat the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals in the 2025 playoffs and then beat the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the game in which Haliburton suffered the injury that will keep him out all of the 2025-26 season. Christmas is considered one of the marquee events of the NBA's regular season calendar. The Pacers haven't been on the Christmas Day schedule since 2004; only Sacramento and Charlotte have gone longer without playing on Dec. 25. Re-live the Pacers unbelievable run to the NBA Finals in IndyStar's commemorative book The NBA champion Thunder will play on Christmas Day, hosting the San Antonio Spurs, who didn't make last year's playoffs but have the draw of sensational center Victor Wembanyama. In the other three games between Western Conference teams, the Houston Rockets will play the Lakers in Los Angeles, the Golden State Warriors will host the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves will play the Nuggets in Denver. Involving those teams assures some of the league's biggest stars will be involved, including Houston's Kevin Durant, Los Angeles' LeBron James and Luka Doncic, Golden State's Stephen Curry, Minnesota's Anthony Edwards, Denver's Nikola Jokic and Dallas' Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft. Charania also reported that the Pacers will not be part of the opening night schedule on NBC on Oct. 21. The Rockets will play the Thunder in Oklahoma City and the Warriors will play the Lakers in Los Angeles. In early prognostications, the Cavaliers and Knicks have been considered the favorites to win the Eastern Conference in 2025-26. The Pacers, who also reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024 were expected to be favorites to repeat as Eastern Conference champs before Haliburton's injury and the departure of center Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency. Prognostications so far have them slated to be a play-in team or worse.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
How Shams Charania's top ESPN job has impacted his personal life: ‘Had to walk out on dates'
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania painted a bleak picture about what it's like to have a job that's 24/7. While discussing work/life balance with fellow ESPNers — reporter Jeremy Schaap, MLB insider Jeff Passan and NFL insider Adam Schefter — Charania explained that his social life has suffered significantly due to his career. 'I've had to walk out on dates, like I've had to walk out on a lot of social events,' Charania said during ESPN's 'The Sports Reporters' on Thursday. 'My friends don't really like me. That's why it's very hard to have a consistent relationship because you know the time that requires and you know the time that they deserve, rightfully. And there are just moments where I'm just always going to choose this as of right now.' Charania was the only one in the conversation who isn't married with children. 'Shams, I try to find balance, I do my very best,' Passan said. 'And I have kids, it becomes different at that point. I hope for your sake that you can find that at some point too because as obsessive as we have to be, there needs to be something else … whether you find that something else in kids or otherwise, you gotta find it because this job will kill you.' 3 ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania painted a bleak picture about what it's like to have a job that's 24/7. YouTube/ESPN Schefter added, 'I relish those moments when the phone is not ringing and we're sitting around enjoying peaceful moments and I can get through a show or streaming without being interrupted.' Charania explained that one way he's able to 'get away' and unplug — to an extent — is by spending time with his family. 3 Shams Charania during the 2025 NBA Draft, round two, on June 26, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NBAE via Getty Images 'My whole family is in Chicago and I'm in Chicago,' he said. 'We're all in very close proximity. It's the little things.' He admitted that he's 'not fully present' during family activities, such as pickleball and mini golf — and recalled lasting 10 minutes during a pickleball game before the start of NBA free agency. 'I was just literally pacing on the field for … 50 or 60 minutes, because that's just what it is,' Charania said. '… My family is gracious enough where as long as I'm in their presence, they don't make me feel bad and I think having those types of people around me allows me to keep going.' Charania began working as an insider in his early college days. 3 Shams Charania on his phone during the 2025 NBA Draft on June 26, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NBAE via Getty Images While his friends were partying and going out, Charania was attending various events and glued to his phone and computer. What was once a dream of playing in the NBA turned into a passion for reporting and hustling behind the scenes to break the biggest news stories around the league. During an interview with The Post in 2022, Charania explained that he wasn't interested in starting a family because his mind was consumed by work. 'Not right now,' he said at the time. 'I live such a crazy schedule. I'm 24/7/365. It would definitely take the right person. I have colleagues at The Athletic and Stadium [his employer at the time] who have spouses and I don't get how they do it. 'I look at myself now, and I can't even imagine having a wife or child. I barely have time for myself! I'm sure, one day, my priorities might change, but right now it's work, work, work, family, work, work. That's what consumes my mind.'
USA Today
04-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bucks respond to latest Giannis trade rumors with a single emoji
For now, the Milwaukee Bucks are probably (and finally) out of the woods regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo's future. After stretching and waiving Damian Lillard's contract, then signing a big-time frontcourt partner in Myles Turner, the Bucks seem like they've done enough to appease Antetokounmpo. Factor in a temporarily weaker Eastern Conference on paper after injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, and it gets easier to talk yourself into the kind of Bucks competence that keeps Antetokounmpo happy. Well, at least for the next two years before the superstar has a decision to make on a player option in the summer of 2027. But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. That didn't stop ESPN's Shams Charania from continuing to stoke the Antetokounmpo fire in Milwaukee. In a Monday morning appearance on First Take, Charania claimed that Antetokounmpo is still undecided about his future in Milwaukee. To be clear, that's not from a long-term perspective. That's from the perspective of whether Antetokounmpo will even want to be in Milwaukee this season. Hmm. while I can't say these rumors are false with absolute certainty, they don't pass the smell test. Given where we are in the NBA offseason, it's hard to believe that Antetokounmpo is really still pondering the near future in Milwaukee. After the conclusion of the draft and free agency, all 30 rosters around the league are more or less set in stone. Anyone who would ostensibly even have the space to trade for Antetokounmpo now probably has much less flexibility to do so without moving mountains around their salary cap sheet. Everything has been accounted for, and it would be a huge headache to dig things up again. We're also roughly two months out from the start of NBA training camps. That sort of short turnaround timeline doesn't lend itself to one of the best players in the world making a seismic change in his career at this specific point. This new rash of an Antetokounmpo rumor reeks of pot-stirring for engagement, but I can't prove it. Not without some help, anyway. That's where the Bucks' social media team came in. They posted a single yawn emoji on their X account, which seems pretty clearly in response to the (manufactured) fervor about Antetokounmpo still wanting to leave the franchise right now: Suffice it to say, if the Bucks aren't publicly concerned about Antetokounmpo leaving like this, then no one else should bat an eyelash over contrary reports. It's all conjecture until someone from Antetokounmpo's camp or the Bucks' camp lends more credence to it. Has Shams Charania previously pushed seemingly unfounded Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors? Yes, actually! Way back in early June, Charania claimed that the Antetokounmpo trade saga would extend well into the summer regardless of any extenuating factors. Later that day, Antetokounmpo posted how he missed former longtime NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, which was an apparent shot at Charania's reporting. The Bucks responding like this to another Charania report is right in line with how their summer has gone with one of the best players they've ever rostered.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shams Charania Makes LeBron James Revelation As 'Hard Conversations' Await Lakers
Shams Charania Makes LeBron James Revelation As 'Hard Conversations' Await Lakers originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Regardless of where he has played in his legendary NBA career, fans and analysts are always scrutinizing LeBron James' next move. As one of the most consequential and heralded players in the history of basketball, James is used to having the spotlight shine directly on him, and that will not change in light of his agent's latest declaration about his future with the Los Angeles Lakers. Advertisement Rich Paul confirmed that his client will exercise his $52.6 million player option to return to the Lakers in 2025-26, but a subsequent statement has left James in limbo. Paul explained that James wants to compete for a championship in what may well be his final NBA season – and left the door open to a possible bombshell trade as the Lakers continue to build for a post-James future around Luka Doncic. "We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career," Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania. "He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him." Advertisement During a Monday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," Charania shed more light on the situation. The NBA insider explained that James is not asking for an extension or even continued recognition as the face of the franchise. But at 40, James wants a legitimate shot at a fifth championship ring. And he is unsure whether Los Angeles continues to suit him in that regard. "From what I've gathered, LeBron James understands where the Lakers are at: Luka Doncic is the face of the franchise for the next five to 10 years," Charania said. Charania explained that James will closely monitor the Lakers' efforts to acquire a wing and a center this summer, and only then will he determine whether the Lakers are good enough to compete for a championship following a first-round exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves in April. Advertisement "Depending on how the Lakers' free agency period goes, what they're able to do in free agency, I think those are hard conversations they're going to have next week, the week after that and at some point in July," Charania told McAfee. Related: New Report on LeBron James to Mavericks Trade Possibility This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Celtics rival listed in preferred Kevin Durant trade destinations (report)
The Kevin Durant trade sweepstakes are starting to get momentum ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft as three teams are at the top of his list. Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the Heat, Spurs and Rockets are Durant's preferred trade destinations. Charania reports that Durant would sign long-term extensions with each of those franchises. Durant, 36, is on an expiring $54.7 million deal. So teams looking to trade for the All-Star could be looking to keep him beyond just the 2025-26 season. Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season in 62 games, so even though he's getting older, it's clear he can still impact the game at a high level. Advertisement Charania originally reported several teams were hoping to trade for one of the best scorers of all-time. He also reported that the Suns "have made clear to six-to-eight seriously interested teams that they will make the best deal for the franchise." So, Durant could still end up on a separate team outside of his preferred list. The Heat could make a big swing if they landed Durant, though it could get costly. Miami was mediocre last season, finishing 37-45 after trading Jimmy Butler midseason. While they showed some life to earn the No. 8 seed in the playoffs by getting through the play-in tournament, all they got was a sweep at the hands of the No. 1-seeded Cavaliers in the first round. While there have been other trade rumors, where Durant ends up is the big early question mark of the offseason. He's still shown to be a game-changing player, so contending teams could view him as a potential last piece. More Celtics content Read the original article on MassLive.
