Draymond Green Labels Shams Charania’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander MVP Leak ‘Embarrassing’ For NBA

Draymond Green has always held an opinion about the various awards the NBA hands out at the end of the regular season. This year, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received his second MVP award, the Warriors’ star noticed that Shams Charania leaked it first.

He has, in the past, talked about how Victor Wembanyama is worthy of winning both the Defensive Player of the Year and the regular-season MVP awards.

But this past season, the Oklahoma City Thunder star proved he was a step above Nikola Jokic and the San Antonio Spurs superstar, particularly towards the end of the campaign.

Shams leaked it. It’s actually embarrassing. It makes our league look like we have no organization. Like that’s child’s play.

Draymond Green said on his namesake show

In his opinion, it is clear that somewhere the four-time champion preferred that the Frenchman receive the award. Even though he has had quite the battles with Wembanyama this past season, Green sees him as the rightful MVP awardee.

Draymond on SGA Winning MVP, Shams Leaking It, And SGA/Wemby Matchup Tonight

“Shams leaked it, it's actually embarrassing, it makes our league look like we have no organization, like that's child's play… It's the conference finals, you (Wemby) got all the motivation you need,… pic.twitter.com/vMGsXsCaQz

— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) May 18, 2026

On the other hand, he took a swipe at not only Shams Charania but also the NBA. The 36-year-old believes that this was as unprofessional as it could get.

The league had earmarked its three networks to officially announce various awards. NBC was tasked with revealing the other end-of-season awards. ESPN, through Inside the NBA, announced the All-Stars.

Then, for Charania, an ESPN employee, to jump the gun and announce the MVP award despite the league giving NBA on Prime the exclusive rights to do so, proved to Green that this was embarrassing for all parties involved.

Shams Charania defends leaking MVP award before NBA on Prime

Draymond Green reiterated that Shams Charania should be in a close partnership with the NBA if he and the league want to avoid such embarrassments. However, the Insider believes that he was just doing his job.

When I get news, if I’ve vetted it,… no matter how big, no matter how small, in this case, very big an accomplishment… This is a massive story… My job is to report the news.

Shams Charania said on The Pat McAfee Show

Ever since the 32-year-old joined ESPN from FanDuel, he has enjoyed an absolute monopoly over any major news involving the NBA.

"My job is to report the news."@ShamsCharania addresses breaking the news that SGA won his second consecutive MVP 🏆

(Via @PatMcAfeeShow) pic.twitter.com/PdxTIZY85Q

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 18, 2026

In fact, he even received flak for announcing the WNBA’s CBA deal, even though colleague Alexa Philippou was the one who camped outside the hotel for more than a week to get the story firsthand.

It is just the nature of business, and Shams Charania believes he was just doing his job. If he received some information and vetted it, he would publish the news.

This could indicate that maybe the league knew about his effort to get the news out before NBA on Prime could announce Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s win live on their broadcast.

Amazon paid a hefty $20 billion to overtake longtime network partner TNT to get its hands on exclusive rights. For Charania to undermine them in this manner is why Draymond Green felt it was proof that the NBA is disjointed.

Malika Andrews helps Shams Charania rub it in on NBA on Prime

While NBA on Prime would like to have a strong conversation with NBA commissioner Adam Silver and his top brass about this mishap, ESPN was out there having fun.

Let’s say hello to our senior insider, Shams Charania, who joins us fresh off brunch.

Malika Andrews said

This was Malika Andrews helping Shams Charania rub it in after NBA on Prime’s broadcast team trolled the ESPN Insider for leaking the information before the official announcement.

Malika Andrews’ introduction for Shams on NBA Today:

“Let's say hello to our senior insider, Shams Charania, who joins us fresh off brunch.”

😅 pic.twitter.com/7EAeFUL6TZ

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 18, 2026

While the NBA Today host could not hold back the smile on her face, her colleague tried to maintain his composure throughout the introduction. This joke could continue once the NBA on Prime’s team is back on broadcast.

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