Adrian Wojnarowski recently opened up about the sacrifices he made throughout his career, particularly the toll it took on his personal and family life. As someone who was always the first to deliver the biggest breaking news in the NBA, Woj’s commitment to his job often meant sacrificing quality time with his loved ones. In a candid interview on the Eye on College Basketball podcast, he shared how the demands of his job pushed him into unusual circumstances, such as breaking news from cemeteries and theme parks while his kids waited nearby.
“I’ve broken news side of the road, cemeteries. ou know, how many times my kids were like parked in a cemetery while I’m breaking news? Just kids looking, and you kinda look at the rear-view mirror, and they’re just looking at you like, ‘What are you doing, man?'”
“Yeah, a lot of cars pulled over in every corner of the world. Disneyland were the worst You go to Disneyland with your kids, and I remember reporting the Gilbert Arenas situation in Washington over a few days at Disneyland.”
“And I remember, the phones, it was a Blackberry, it didn’t charge very long and I remember just sitting there plugged by the water fountain while the kids are on rides. Not the best, not ‘Dad of the Year’ on that one.” (52:17)
Woj described moments when he would pull over in his car to break a major story, his children waiting patiently in the backseat. He recalled looking into the rearview mirror and seeing the confused expressions on their faces, as they watched their dad fully immersed in his work during what was supposed to be family time.
One of his most vivid memories was a family trip to Disneyland, where instead of enjoying the theme park with his kids, he found himself reporting on the Gilbert Arenas situation in Washington. Wojnarowski admitted that it wasn’t one of his proudest moments as a father. He spent a good portion of the trip tethered to his Blackberry, plugged into a water fountain, trying to keep the battery alive while the kids enjoyed the rides without him.
For Wojnarowski, the grind of being the top NBA newsbreaker required constant availability, often at the expense of personal time. The pressure to deliver the next “Woj Bomb” meant there was rarely any time to switch off or fully relax. With over 6.5 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), he was always expected to be the first to break news about player trades, injuries, or other significant league events.
The pressure of being at the top was not only a job but a lifestyle, one that Woj found increasingly difficult to maintain.
Now retired, Wojnarowski reflects on the trade-offs he made in his career. He acknowledges that while his job was the pinnacle for many aspiring journalists, the cost was steep. The constant need to be on call, even during family vacations or everyday activities, drained him. Despite the fame, fortune, and a $7 million annual salary, Woj realized that the lifestyle wasn’t sustainable for him in the long term.
At 55 years old, Woj decided it was time to focus on what truly mattered. He turned down lucrative opportunities and the constant limelight to reconnect with his family and pursue a new chapter at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure University.
Woj’s story is a reminder that even in high-profile careers, the pursuit of success can come at a personal cost. For him, the decision to step away from the intense demands of NBA journalism was about regaining control of his life and being more present for his fam
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