MVP Spoiler turns into a political issue: Green goes after Charania

The report from Shams Charania that revealed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s second straight MVP award didn’t just ruin NBA on Prime’s television plans – it sparked what feels like a full-scale political storm within the league itself.

Among the loudest and most direct critics to the ESPN insider, there was Draymond Green. Speaking on The Draymond Green Show, the veteran Golden State Warriors forward used harsh words, turning what could have been viewed as a simple news scoop into what he called an institutional image problem for the entire NBA.

Draymond fires back: “embarrassing for the NBA”

Green held nothing back, calling Charania’s early-morning tweet “pathetic” and “embarrassing.” According to the four-time NBA champion, the issue touches the league’s credibility itself under Commissioner Adam Silver:

We’re the NBA. We control the media and Shams is an ESPN reporter, which is an official league partner. Tweeting out the MVP at six in the morning makes our league look completely unorganized. It looks like child’s play

Draymond Green

The core of Green’s criticism centered on the inability to protect the league’s most prestigious individual award:

There’s no way you can’t keep these results under wraps until the scheduled announcement. If there’s an agreement to air the event live on Amazon Prime, then that’s where the announcement should happen. Silver needs to step in. This management is unacceptable

Draymond Green

The Warriors big man even admitted he initially thought the report was fake:

When I saw the news at six in the morning, I thought it was a fake account. I had to go on Instagram and double-check to realize it was unfortunately real

Draymond Green

Shams responds

Green’s criticism joined a growing wave of reactions that also spilled onto live television, highlighted by jokes from Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin (“It’s Sunday, Shams – go have brunch, you nerd”).

Facing the backlash, Charania used his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show to publicly defend his professional approach.

The insider stood firmly behind his role as a reporter, explaining that he verified the information late Saturday night and into early Sunday morning:

When I get information that’s 100% confirmed, my only job is to report it, no matter how big or small the story is

Shams Charania

Charania also emphasized the historical significance of the news as justification for publishing it immediately:

We’re talking about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – the 14th player in NBA history to win the award in back-to-back seasons, and the only guard to do it since Stephen Curry. That’s a huge story. I wake up and go to sleep thinking about this. I feel the responsibility of my job, and I can guarantee it won’t be the last time I do it to the best of my ability

Shams Charania

While players’ reactions reflect growing frustration with spoiler culture and its impact on the television product, Shams’ defense also highlights the ruthless reality of modern American sports journalism.