It may be the NBA’s offseason, but it’s the busiest time of year for phony NBA insiders on social media.
This time an account professing to be ESPN’s Shams Charania pulled a fast one on CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson, who reposted an erroneous report on LeBron James’ next move.
‘BREAKING: Four-time NBA champion LeBron James has agreed to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, league sources tell ESPN,’ read a Monday evening post from an account with the handle: @ShamsCharama. ‘James joins Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, as Philadelphia makes a major push for an NBA title entering the 2026-27 season.’
Following their trade for the All-Star, Brown, the Sixers have been one of several teams reportedly getting consideration from the 41-year-old free agent, James, so such a report didn’t seem farfetched.
And Wolfson was hardly the only X user to be fooled by the phony social media post, which was shared more than 1,000 times on the platform. Unfortunately for her, the others aren’t veteran sideline reporters, so Wolfson’s mistake stood out a bit more.
‘On no,’ read one reaction on X. ‘They got Tracy Wolfson lol.’
LeBron James and Savannah James at the Time100 Sports Gala held at Pier Sixty on Thursday
CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson was hardly the only X user to be fooled by the phony social media post, which was shared more than 1,000 times on the platform
Wolfson’s mistake will hardly tarnish her sterling reputation. The University of Michigan product has worked five Super Bowl sidelines and recently won an Emmy Award
Her repost remained up on X for hours until she was able to take it down Tuesday morning.
Regardless, Wolfson’s mistake will hardly tarnish her sterling reputation. The University of Michigan product has worked five Super Bowl sidelines and recently won an Emmy Award.
Former NBA guard Patrick Beverley made a similar mistake on James’ upcoming free-agency decision.
Beverley didn’t get fooled by a parody account, but the 38-year-old who played in Greece last season did offer his own erroneous report on Monday.
‘Rumor has it Bron makes his decision today!!!; Beverley wrote on X.
His following post arrived on Tuesday morning: ‘Can’t believe that source lied to me man.’
James’s agent Rich Paul has confirmed that his client is considering 10 potential teams for the 2026-27 season, including the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and the 76ers.
‘We’re not going to be rushed,’ Paul told his podcast co-host Max Kellerman on Monday. ‘We’re not going to be rushed. It’s his choice to make and when he makes the choice, he’ll make it.
‘There’s been several people to call and say, ‘Hey, Rich, is there anything more we should be doing? We could be doing?” Paul said. ‘And my answer is, ‘No. We don’t need you to go above and beyond about anything. We understand it. It’s clear. All the messages have been sent.”
