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- Adrian Wojnarowski is the most powerful man in sports betting
- On Thursday, he consistently leaked NBA Draft information which had major sway on Vegas odds
- Fans and media were quick to react on social media
The NBA Draft saw tons of twists and turns over the course of the week, ending with a surprise selection at the No. 1 spot.
At the start of the week, Auburn’s Jabari Smith was believed to be the favorite to be taken by the Orlando Magic with the top pick. Most believed that Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero would follow to round out the top three.
Then, the “Woj” Effect happened.
Whispers began to surface that it was actually Banchero who was going to be Orlando’s pick, seeing his odds shoot from around +1600 to -200, making him the new favorite.
In the last 72 hours, Paolo Banchero’s odds to be drafted No. 1 overall moved from +1600 to -200 on @DraftKings.
If the Magic actually select Banchero, it will go down as one of the most elaborate smokescreens atop the draft in NBA history.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 23, 2022
That’s when all hell broke loose.
After the news of Banchero’s rise to the top of the draft boards, Wojnarowski sent out a tweet challenging that thought, saying the original 1-2-3 of Smith, Holmgren, and Banchero was becoming “increasingly firm.” The sportsbooks saw an immediate shift.
As team boards finalize today, the 1-2-3 of the NBA Draft is increasingly firm, per sources: Jabari Smith to Orlando, Chet Holmgren to Oklahoma City and Paolo Banchero to Houston.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2022
On Woj’s tweet at 8:41 am ET this morning, Paolo Banchero went from -200 to +300 at @PointsBetUSA.
Sharps didn’t believe it. Was bet immediately down to +240.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 24, 2022
Within an hour, Banchero went from -200 back up to +300. Banchero entered the NBA Draft at +350. Then, another Wojnarowski tweet.
Just ahead of the selection process, Woj reversed his earlier statement, saying that Banchero was a legitimate contender to go No. 1. And again, there was another immediate change in the odds.
The Magic have kept their final decision tight, but Banchero has emerged as a significant possibility to be drafted No. 1 overall, sources said. https://t.co/Vi3iPSMAsG
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2022
Banchero quickly jumped back to being the favorite, with odds shifting to -125. Pure chaos.
It got to the point where sportsbooks eventually started pulling their odds for upcoming picks to avoid Wojnarowski leaking information before the picks went live.
All legal sportsbooks have pulled the odds for No. 1 pick.
Books will offer live betting but will stay two picks ahead of Woj and four picks ahead of TV.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 24, 2022
Woj was in total control, and social media was loving it.
Fans and media react to Adrian Wojnarowski wreaking havoc on the NBA Draft
Woj to the sportsbooks: pic.twitter.com/0lJKVB7Z2N
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) June 23, 2022
Woj is a sports book's nightmare tonight. #NBADraft
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) June 24, 2022
Woj 15 minutes before the Draft pic.twitter.com/C3puBWjerp
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) June 23, 2022
Woj continuously tweeting out news about the first overall pick while Twitter devolves into chaos pic.twitter.com/us90Kf7EfD
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) June 24, 2022
Woj after sending bettors into panic all day 😂 pic.twitter.com/34hpXx06Kh
— br_betting (@br_betting) June 23, 2022
Some even questioned Adrian Wojnarowski’s motives, as his information for the top pick differed so greatly from the beginning of the day to the start of the NBA Draft.
I wanna see Woj's bank account transactions in the last 24 hours
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) June 24, 2022
If Paolo goes No. 1 it seems pretty obvious that either
1. Woj got played really bad today
2. Or he purposely put out fake information to help the Orlando front office keep trade leverage for the pickAnd I think we all know which one it is 🤦♂️ https://t.co/TLBUiJA3jf
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) June 23, 2022
Banchero wound up going at No. 1, completing what’s been a crazy day for the folks in Vegas. Woj had total control. It will be interesting to see if some changes come about for next year’s event.