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Social media reacts to Shams Charania leaking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP win: 'Biblical levels of greed'

David Suggs

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Social media reacts to Shams Charania leaking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP win: 'Biblical levels of greed' image

ESPN and TNT have warred with one another for much of the past year. The sports broadcasting titans were caught in a collision course of sorts after the NBA opted against renewing its media deal with the Ted Turner-founded channel, placing its flagship hoops program, "Inside the NBA" in limbo.

In the end, the two networks reached an agreement. ESPN will add "Inside the NBA" into its coverage in 2025-26, while TNT Sports will continue producing the program in the years to come.

Nevertheless, tension remains between the two entities. On Wednesday, the feud was rekindled. The man at the center of the carnage: none other than ESPN insider Shams Charania.

Charania revealed that Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander captured his long-awaited MVP award. Such an announcement wasn't all that surprising; Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City to a league-best 68-14 record while becoming the first player to average 30 points, 50 percent shooting, five rebounds, five assists, 1.5 steals, and 1 block per game since Michael Jordan in 1987-88.

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There was just one problem with Charania's reveal; "Inside the NBA" was supposed to air live coverage of the announcement ahead of the Knicks and Pacers' Game 1 clash on Wednesday night.

Charania seemingly railroaded TNT — and, by proxy, his future ESPN colleagues — in an effort to yield engagement. Social media, particularly X, the website formerly known as Twitter, was ablaze with confusion and outright condemnation for the veteran reporter's move.

Here's what you need to know.

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Social media reacts to Shams Charania leaking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP win

David Suggs

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.