Adrian Wojnarowski, former ESPN NBA insider, disclosed that he was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer in March, just six months before his unexpected retirement. The revelation came in a Sports Illustrated profile, where the 55-year-old connected the poignant line from his retirement statement—“Time isn’t in endless supply”—to his diagnosis.

Wojnarowski discovered the cancer following a February physical that revealed elevated PSA levels, with a biopsy confirming the diagnosis. He learned of it mere minutes before appearing on “NBA Countdown.” Despite the initial shock, Wojnarowski expressed optimism, emphasizing that prostate cancer is typically slow-growing and confined.

Currently asymptomatic, his treatment plan involves active surveillance paired with lifestyle adjustments, including improved diet, exercise, and sleep. Surgery is an option but deemed unnecessary unless the mental burden of knowing about the cancer becomes overwhelming.

Wojnarowski clarified that his diagnosis was not the reason behind his departure from ESPN. Instead, he chose to leave the high-pressure role to prioritize his personal life, rejecting a $7.3 million salary for a $75,000 position as general manager of St. Bonaventure’s men’s basketball program, his alma mater.

“I didn’t want to spend one more day of my life waiting on someone’s MRI or texting an agent at 1 a.m. about an ankle sprain,” Wojnarowski shared. His family, ready for a change, supported the decision, and he reflected on his legacy, saying, “Nobody remembers breaking stories in the end. It’s just vapor.”

Since Wojnarowski’s departure, ESPN has brought in Shams Charania, his former colleague at Yahoo Sports, as its new NBA insider.