How prepared is Adrian Wojnarowski for his new role, and what’s the intent? It’s something that Gilbert Arenas discussed in his recent podcast episode. “An investment that I’m no longer driven to make” — with these words, Wojnarowski bid farewell to a career he started 37 years ago. The ESPN reporter, however, is not retiring from his professional life. From being an NBA insider, Woj is now moving to a new role of General Manager of the men’s basketball program at St. Bonaventure — his alma mater.

However, Gil’s Arena podcast witnessed a discussion on how qualified the 55-year-old is for this new role. Arenas himself was among the ones to point out a flaw in the move. “He’s (Woj) leaving ESPN to be a GM at his alma mater… A guy who don’t know sports… There’s a difference between reading sports from what the producers give you… That’s what you get your degree for…” the former Golden State Warriors star said.

But it turns out that the ex-ESPN reporter should not be having much of an issue with the transition. Co-host Josiah Johnson highlighted that Woj will most likely be involved in things like roster management and Name Image Likeness (NIL) resources rather than dealing with the talent hunt. “So he don’t need to know sports… So he wants to steal some NIL money… Got it. Bigger bag over here,” Arenas added to this with a laugh.

Notably, Adrian Wojnarowski joined ESPN in 2017 and had been with the network until now. To name some other popular stints, he earlier worked with Yahoo Sports and The Record of Bergen County (New Jersey). The 55-year-old gained a reputation for being among the first ones to drop updates on trades, free agent signings, and such news.

Subsequently, his reports and updates soon gained the name of Woj bombs. Some of the most popular Woj bombs of his career include — Pelicans trading Anthony Davis to the Lakers, OKC trading Paul George to Clippers, season 2020 suspension because of COVID and many more. One may wonder how he will make his skills from this career transferable to his role as a GM.

Why is Adrian Wojnarowski transitioning from a media entity to a General Manager?

The transition reflects the growing importance of the GM position in college basketball, particularly with the rise of the transfer portal. Managing roster turnover, handling NIL allocations, and supporting coach Mark Schmidt are key responsibilities that Wojnarowski will probably oversee, as stated earlier too.

Meanwhile, St. Bonaventure athletic director Bob Beretta told ESPN that there could not have been a better fit than Woj to fill this new role. He believes the 55-year-old will combine his intimate knowledge of St. Bonaventure and Franciscan values with a deep network of relationships the ex-ESPN employee has built.

But why leave a lucrative media career? Beretta himself highlights it best: “The fact that the preeminent journalist in his field is willing to walk away… is a testament to his love and passion for Bona’s (his alma mater).” However, only time will tell how successful Adrian Wojnarowski emerges in his role. And then if he grabs a big bag, as per Arenas claims, it should still be fine.

Stay tuned for more updates. Join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host, BG12, sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.