[Woj News] Adrian Wojnarowski seems at peace with his new life

[GSWFan1994]

Via Basket News:

Adrian Wojnarowski talks NIL, NBA, and recruiting in Serbia

Adrian Wojnarowski, former ESPN NBA insider, has taken on a new role as GM at St. Bonaventure University. In an exclusive interview, he discusses his transition, NIL’s impact, global recruiting, and why Serbia is vital to his basketball vision.

For years, Adrian Wojnarowski was the voice of NBA news—dropping “Woj Bombs” that shook the league. But today, instead of breaking trades on ESPN, he’s focused on building futures at St. Bonaventure University, where he now serves as general manager of the men’s basketball program.

In an interview with Marko Ljubomirovic and MaxBet Sport, Wojnarowski explains why he left journalism behind, how he’s navigating college basketball’s new NIL era, and why Serbia remains a key part of his international recruitment strategy.

From ESPN to the Reilly Center

In September, Wojnarowski stunned the sports world when he announced his departure from ESPN and pivoted to college athletics.

“I love my new job. Helping players grow as athletes and as people is incredibly rewarding,” he said.

“St. Bonaventure changed my life. I was the first in my family to attend college, and this place gave me a foundation. Now, my job is to give back—whether it’s to our students, alumni, or community.”

Though he remains connected with former colleagues in media, he says he has no regrets:

“That chapter is closed. I loved working at ESPN, but this new role excites me in a completely different way.”

What a GM Does at the College Level

Wojnarowski’s responsibilities extend far beyond the sideline.

“Every day is busy—recruiting, talent evaluation, talking to agents, working with families, and helping form our roster. I’m also involved in budgeting and long-term planning,” he explains.

“This business is about relationships. We don’t just want good players—we want ‘gym rats’ who live in the gym and are obsessed with improving. Our goal is to give them an environment where they can grow in every aspect.”

The NIL Era: A New Reality in College Basketball

The rise of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals has dramatically changed the college basketball landscape—and smaller programs like St. Bonaventure must adapt quickly.

“NIL and revenue sharing present serious challenges, especially for schools like ours. We have to be smart, efficient, and never lose sight of our main mission: developing people, not just players,” he says.

“We’ve proven we can do that. Coach Mark Schmidt is entering his 19th season. We’ve produced professional players, graduates, and a winning culture.”

International Recruiting: Serbia at the Forefront

NIL isn’t just a domestic issue—it’s having global effects. More international players are heading to the U.S., and Wojnarowski is leading that charge.

“Absolutely, NIL has made the U.S. more attractive to foreign talent. We’re now seeing how much value international players bring—on and off the court,” he says.

He recently visited Belgrade to scout talent and is clear about his priorities:

“I’m searching for players who can thrive in our system. Serbia is essential in that search. We’re a small academic community, but we offer elite basketball—and access to my NBA network. That’s a powerful combination.”

Visa issues and red tape remain challenges, but he’s confident:

“We expect all our players to be on campus by the end of August. We’re working closely with agents and families to make it happen.”

Global Shifts and Serbia’s Growing Influence

With more money available in college, many players are delaying NBA dreams and staying in school longer. Wojnarowski sees it as a win-win:

“NIL has slowed the rush to the NBA, which benefits everyone. The league gets more mature rookies, and college basketball sees better competition and continuity.”

When asked specifically about Serbian prospects:

“Serbian players are among the best in the world—technically skilled, fiercely competitive, and team-first. Serbian coaching is world-class.

We’re already recruiting players from Serbia and hope to welcome our first this year. It would be an honor to have them in our program.”

[Shock Defeat]

Going from having to be wired in, glued to your phone 24/7 and constantly talking to hundreds of people a day to being able to relax and work stable hours? You'd expect to be happier.

[OrlandoMagic198]

I am glad he left and is at peace with his new life, his woj bombs was very annoying

[mkot]

No more spoiling of draft picks

[Sgt Major]

Next time he comes to Serbia, I'll take him to try some of these

Spoiler:

[Dez]

No more spoiling of draft picks

Yes there is, that wasn't a Woj specific thing.

[TwitterFingers]

No more spoiling of draft picks

That was more Shams

[Raps in 4]

Do I miss him? No. Shams is just as plugged in as Woj was.

I'm happy for him and glad he's enjoying his new gig.

[JonFromVA]

The woj bombs were fun for us and his exposure on camera was going up too, but good for him finding something he personally enjoys doing.

[BigGargamel]

Having to be on your phone literally 24 hours a day seems like a sad life. Even if you're getting paid really well. I don't know how the few really good ones do it.

[mkot]

No more spoiling of draft picks

That was more Shams

I beleive we seen less draft pick spoiling by him because there's no competition (Woj) to make him do so

[Capn'O]

The tomatoes in his garden are crowding his beans, sources say.

[kbitboc]

Why would anyone miss him? The difference with him is that maybe we know of some nba news 1 minute before someone else releases it.

[azcatz11]

He ruined the draft for years. Horrible on podcasts. Biggest parasite in nba history. I wish him nothing but bad luck

[Domejandro]

Why would anyone miss him? The difference with him is that maybe we know of some nba news 1 minute before someone else releases it.

He was far more detail oriented with his reporting than Shams is, Shams kind of just pukes out headline information and leaves everyone with trying to figure out the detail through a variety of other sources.

[Zeno]

The tomatoes in his garden are crowding his beans, sources say.

Are you reporting that his beans are asking out or are they merely monitoring the situation?

[Lalouie]

not that i miss woj, it's that i do not care for shams.

he has a horrible delivery

when he speaks , he has pauses like he didn't bring his glasses to read the teleprompter

it's almost like he's trying to talk like woj but doesn't know how

[Snakebites]

There wasn't really much else Woj could accomplish without reinventing himself, and the time and energy it takes to even tread water doing what he was doing would be overwhelming.

So it really isn't a surprise that he went in this direction.

[Karate Diop]

Do I miss him? No. Shams is just as plugged in as Woj was.

I'm happy for him and glad he's enjoying his new gig.

Is he? Shams is way more of a mouthpiece who pushes agendas where Woj was really about the facts.

[XTC]

I miss the rivalry vs Shams to get news out.