"Disgusting and disturbing": ESPN personality used inside info to bet on LeBron James' destination

American author and journalist Jeff Pearlman has harshly criticized ESPN personality Pat McAfee after he admitted to using advance information from senior NBA insider Shams Charania to bet on LeBron James' next destination.

McAfee revealed on his show that Charania had notified him in advance to bring him on air, which he interpreted as a signal that James had already made his decision.

"Shams said to us: 'You're going to want me on the show today'," McAfee recounted. "So I realized the decision had been made. I just jumped on the top 4 option. The odds were plus 700."

Pearlman responded to the video on TikTok, arguing that the incident proves ESPN has abandoned any pretense of journalistic integrity. He stated that the network's gambling interests have overtaken its journalistic role, turning reporter information into a tool to influence betting markets.

"ESPN just fired a bunch of real reporters who take this job seriously," Pearlman said. "And at the same time, we hear Shams, their senior NBA insider, sitting on a show with a guy who is telling how he used information he got through the show to bet on LeBron James' destination."

Pearlman added that any remaining belief that ESPN is anything more than a "money-making machine" is nonsense. He criticized Charania for nodding and laughing during the segment, calling the entire situation "sick, disgusting, and disturbing."

These remarks come amid a wave of layoffs at ESPN. Reports suggest the network is discussing a contract extension with McAfee worth up to $65 million annually. While McAfee has denied a link between his salary and the layoffs, gambling has become a core component of his show. Last month, he announced a new partnership with DraftKings.

Pearlman concluded with a broader attack on the prevalence of gambling in sports media: "It's so toxic and so destructive. What happened to our society that we became so greedy? It's just a sickness."