Shams Charania is widely recognized as the NBA reporter who consistently breaks news ahead of everyone else, often only rivaled by Adrian Wojnarowski. Due to his unwavering commitment to be the first to report NBA scoops, Shams, much like Woj, holds one of the highest “screen time” records, measuring the hours spent on a phone each day.
While many people are embarrassed by their high screen time usage, Shams proudly embraces it as a hallmark of his profession.
During the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Shams, typically known as the interviewer, found himself in the rare position of being interviewed, offering a glimpse into his extensive phone usage.
On July 1, the opening day of free agency, Shams logged an impressive 21 hours and 34 minutes of screen time, indicating his minimal sleep and constant need for a charger.
Shams screen time on day 1 of NBA Free Agency is a joke 😭 pic.twitter.com/7LbHQBoaaw
— Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) July 14, 2024
Considering the high demand for NBA news during free agency, a period filled with player signings and team updates, Shams’ extensive screen time is understandable. He disclosed that on an average day, he spends over 17 hours on his phone.
Shams really averages 17+ hours of screen time A DAY 🤯😳
(via @FanDuel, @FanDuelTV) pic.twitter.com/OTUiLue5NH
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 5, 2023
Shams kickstarted his journalism journey at 17 by covering the Chicago Bulls for the Chicago Tribune. He later wrote for RealGM in 2012, catching the eye of Wojnarowski who helped him land a position at Yahoo. From 2015 to 2018, Shams served as the national NBA Insider for Yahoo Sports.
Presently, as a 30-year-old senior lead NBA Insider for The Athletic, NBA analyst for Stadium, and co-host of the FanDuel TV show Run It Back, Shams juggles multiple roles daily.
His diligence is highly valued by fans who rely on him for up-to-date NBA news, whether it’s trade and free agency updates or league rumors. Shams often keeps fans more informed through phone notifications than even their significant others.
