Shams Charania Is Getting Ridiculed Over How He Delivered The LaMarcus Aldridge Retirement News

NBA insider for The Athletic, Shams Charania, is in the business of getting news out as fast as possible. So when newly-acquired Brooklyn Nets big man LaMarcus Aldridge announced that he was surprisingly retiring from the NBA, Shams was on it.

Nets‘ LaMarcus Aldridge announces he is retiring from the NBA.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 15, 2021

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With that being the only context, fans were quick to make jokes about Aldridges’ retirement. But it was later revealed that LaMarcus has chosen to walk away from the game due to an irregular heartbeat.

Aldridge says he played his last NBA game on April 10 while dealing with an irregular heartbeat: "Though I'm better now, what I felt with my heart that night was still one of the scariest things I've experienced." https://t.co/WdoHDnnE4l

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 15, 2021

Shams is now being criticized for not adding context to his original tweet.

Shams did a total disservice with that first tweet. Either retweet LMA directly or provide the context. The need to be first even on non-scoops is super gross

— Daman Rangoola (@damanr) April 15, 2021

https://twitter.com/JJGotNext/status/1382715074079559682

Nah shams really said ”…..oh yeah btw his life was on the line”

— 🍿 (@The_6ix_man) April 15, 2021

if the only thing you read was Shams first tweet, OF COURSE you’re gonna make jokes about LaMarcus Aldridge retiring

lot of people looking like insensitive dickheads bc Shams sent out a tweet completely lacking context

— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) April 15, 2021

It’s pretty reckless for Shams to tweet out a blanket statement that LaMarcus Aldridge is retiring without proper context, especially in this case dealing with LA’s health smh.

— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) April 15, 2021

Pretty terrible of shams too. In such a rush to be first and have a scoop that he tweeted the retirement out without context. I saw Shams before I saw Aldridge post, I’m sure many did, and it read like he retired randomly midseason without reason.

Why not just retweet Aldridge?

— Brooklynsbeat (@brooklynsbeat) April 15, 2021

Shams shows more respect to a domestic abuser than to a guy announcing his shocking retirement due to a heart issue

— Mike (@mhc_76) April 15, 2021

Shams not providing the context right away just to be the first to get the scoop out is so irresponsible.

Anyway, hope LMA's okay. I understand the decision to put your health and well-being first. He's had a long and fruitful career. https://t.co/okzgvE0CL0

— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) April 15, 2021

Unfortunately, I’m not sure if this is really a reflection of Shams or just reporting as a whole right now. It’s not about the quality of the content nowadays, it’s just about who’s able to get it out first.

Also, I thought Shams was pretty quick to add details to the LaMarcus Aldridge situation.

Hopefully Aldridge gets his health in order. Definitely a very scary situation.

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