According to sources speaking with Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Jeff Passan is being considered to transition from covering MLB for ESPN to the NBA and potentially replace Adrian Wojnarowski as the network’s lead newsbreaker.
Another top contender for the position is Shams Charania, who currently writes for The Athletic. ESPN also has insiders like Ramona Shelburne, Brian Windhorst, and Tim Bontemps.
In his current role covering MLB, Passan earns around $1 million per year. It remains uncertain if he would accept the switch if officially offered. If he were to take on the new role, Wojnarowski and Bobby Marks could mentor him as he begins reporting on a league he has limited experience in.
Passan is known for writing longer-form stories in addition to breaking news, a practice that Wojnarowski has done less of over time. Some at ESPN are looking to redefine the role of their top NBA insider.
