Adrian Wojnarowski was announced on Friday as one of this year’s recipients of the prestigious Curt Gowdy Media Award. This honor recognizes outstanding contributions to basketball media and is presented annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The award ceremony will take place on September 5-6, coinciding with the induction of this year’s Naismith Hall of Fame class. Finalists for the Hall of Fame were also revealed on Friday.
In response to the news, Wojnarowski expressed deep gratitude and reflected on his journey in sports journalism.
“I only had ever hoped to have a career as a sportswriter, and so to me this honor is reflective of all the people who believed in me, gave me opportunities, helped me along this road, and that’s what comes to mind first,” Wojnarowski told ESPN shortly after Friday’s announcement.
He also spoke about the significance of joining a distinguished list of past winners, saying, “So many of my idols, from Jackie MacMullan to Michael Wilbon to Doris Burke to Harvey Araton, have been honored previously, and it’s beyond my wildest dreams to be in that company.”
Wojnarowski’s career in NBA media began its meteoric rise when he joined Yahoo Sports in 2007. He quickly gained a reputation for his insightful columns that detailed the league’s inner workings.
With the rise of Twitter in 2009, he became the NBA’s most influential newsbreaker, earning the nickname “Woj” and popularizing the term “Woj Bomb” for his breaking news tweets. His relentless work ethic and deep network of sources transformed how fans consumed NBA news.
Reflecting on his career trajectory, Wojnarowski acknowledged the unique timing of his rise in sports media.
“I came along at a unique time in media,” he said. “And I came along at a time media and the league were changing, and I was the beneficiary of good timing and incredible support from people I worked with at the NBA, ESPN, and Yahoo.”
After a storied career that redefined NBA journalism, Wojnarowski retired from sports media in September when he left ESPN to take on a new challenge as the general manager of St. Bonaventure’s basketball program.
His transition from reporting to team management marks a new chapter in his basketball journey, bringing his career full circle as he returns to his alma mater. Despite his retirement from journalism, Wojnarowski’s influence on sports media endures, and his Curt Gowdy M
Adrian Wojnarowski To Receive Curt Gowdy Media Award https://t.co/p0G2T2sL84
— RealGM (@RealGM) February 15, 2025
