A goodbye from Varun Shankar

My last day covering the Wizards and with The Washington Post will be Dec. 31. Leaving for a new opportunity (TBA).

Im excited for what’s next but sad to leave — I loved working at The Post. I grew up with its sports section. The local beat writers were my idols.

Getting to fill one of those spots will always be an honor. Thank you to everyone who made it happen.

Wizards fans, thank you for reading, watching and listening to my work. I hoped my coverage helped you learn about the team you love.

-30-

142 points PresidentNaruto

Shame we couldn't have turned Varun's expiring contract into draft compensation when we had the chance. Rare Dawkins L

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44 points byvarunshankar

😭😭😭Will catching strays because of me now

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71 points SmellyFartGuy

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO you were my fave wiz reporter dawg i loved your pieces 😭. Gonna miss tf out of you here, good luck with the new gig and thanks for all the great work you did on the wiz!

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9 points byvarunshankar

That is incredibly kind, thank you!

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90 points dasvimal

Yo, was really enjoying everybody eats and your basketball nerd approach to coverage (I hope that's a compliment to you). good luck with the next opportunity, I'll be curious to see where you land.

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11 points byvarunshankar

Thank you (and it’s absolutely a compliment)!

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36 points gwizantor90

Thanks for the hard work and dedication, we know you’ll kill it at your next job!

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7 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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27 points Googles8

We'll miss you! Thanks for your hard work and dedication, and good luck with the next opportunity!

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3 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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27 points Snoopdoge857192

Congratulations on your new gig Varun👏 You always covered the Wizards very well and your pieces were interesting to read

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3 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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23 points chatty_bang

Every good Wizards podcast seems to leave as soon as it starts. Wishing you the best with this next opportunity Varun!

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3 points byvarunshankar

Thank you! Rlly sad to leave everybody eats behind

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3 points Dry-Change6160

Because they don't make any money!!! Hell, you can only live on tater tots and fish sticks, but so long I hope you get a bag

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66 points espnrocksalot

The poor Post sports section continues to fall

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9 points byvarunshankar

The Post has tons of great sportswriters better than me. Confident they’ll continue doing great work.

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16 points Temporary-Mud-2994

Damn, it was very nice to see a reporter share their thoughts and analysis about this team and take input of the fans of this sub. You will be missed love reading your posts.

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3 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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16 points _LilBucket

🫡

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4 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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14 points bombation

Thanks Varun; it’s been really refreshing to get thoughtful analysis on a team no one outside of DC seems to care about. Happy trails and good luck with whatever is next!

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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13 points HowardBunnyColvin

Happy Trails

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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11 points starvs

Was sad to hear you announce this on the last (ever...) episode of Everybody Eats, was really enjoying it, some great guests. But I'm sure it's a good opportunity, so, happy for you.

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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12 points Sad-Breakfast-8942

Really liked you Varun, even as I could not stand what the Post has become now. Appreciated the time and energy you put into the videos, breakdowns, and general following of the team. You leaving so early in your career when is another sign that the Post has fallen when it used to be one of the pinnacles of journalism. Wishing you the best in what’s next!

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2 points byvarunshankar

Thank you for the kind words — The Post will continue to produce excellent work. Tons of people there way more talented than me.

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12 points FCBarca45

Good luck and RIP to the pod 🥀

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you and RIP

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11 points MegaSupremeTaco

You will be sorely missed around these parts

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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7 points snowe99

Whaaaaaaat noooo

I am actually a WashPo subscriber and loved your column

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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7 points Terminal_Flatulence

Dang, sorry to see you leave but congrats on the new opportunity. Was really enjoying your coverage and the podcast.

Best of luck!

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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6 points Travis-Scott

Damn, you were the only one actually posting real analysis or pieces about the Wizards. big respect boss. best of luck with the next gig

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2 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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3 points RefrigeratorNext1737

Oh, bummer. I was really starting to enjoy your coverage of the team. I really liked your mixed media approach. Best of luck in the future.

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2 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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3 points cswhite101

Really loved all of your coverage, thanks for all of your hard work. Good luck with the new opportunity!!!

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2 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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4 points Oldschoolhollywood

Bummer for us, but congrats to you!

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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6 points waskittenman

thank you for your service

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4 points z3mcs

Happy cake day!

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2 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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3 points Some-Ear8984

Your approach and dedication will be sorely missed. Thanks and good luck.

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2 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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3 points DollarLate_DayShort

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3 points byvarunshankar

🫗

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2 points InGenNateKenny

Never did get that fan meetup. Them's the breaks. Well, good luck in your future endeavors!

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2 points byvarunshankar

Ah damn, maybe one coming in the next two weeks!

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2 points rpantherlion

So sorry to hear that man

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3 points byvarunshankar

Sad to leave, excited about what’s next

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1 points rpantherlion

Wishing you the best of luck!

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2 points wilzonz

I’m hoping the big reveal (TBA) is that you’ll still be covering the team in some capacity—and that it will make you rich!

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3 points byvarunshankar

It unfortunately isn’t gonna be covering the Wiz but thank you!

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2 points wilzonz

Here come the waterworks, but one day acceptance. Best of luck, do let us know!

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2 points Eggdripp

Varun, from someone just getting more into the Wizards I really appreciated your coverage, even if I only viewed intermittently. Sorry to hear that you won't continue covering this team as they hopefully ascend, but I'm glad you were able to find a better opportunity elsewhere!

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2 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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2 points KigaroGasoline

Sorry to see you go, I enjoyed your writing. Excited to see where you land next.

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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2 points Clean-Call8032

Dang, that’s such a bummer (but congrats on whatever comes next)

Was just telling a friend your coverage of the wizards is my new bar for beat reporters! Will definitely miss your content

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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2 points Colest

This franchise can't have shit.

All jokes aside, your work was always a joy to read and having someone with their finger on the pulse of the community at the pressers will be sorely missed. Hope to see you around and let us know what your next gig entails!

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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2 points johme08

Are you still doing your podcast, or was that also by the post?

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1 points byvarunshankar

I will not be, gonna be covering a different team

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2 points No-Independence-5479

Be good man, thank you for your work.

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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2 points elpibe3213

You’re a real one, Varun. Good luck!

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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2 points amendele

You were one of the few folks who weren't cynical or dismissive of this team, unlike a lot of folks (including myself at times). Gonna miss ya.

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2 points z3mcs

Whaaat?! Man no, you are not allowed to leave without permission! j/k, congrats!

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3 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points z3mcs

Thanks for everything man. I really really hate that you're going. Can't wait to hear where! It must be really good! Or at least I hope it is.

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1 points Efficient_Buy4031

Thanks for all the great work and best of luck with the new opportunity!!

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points Incompl

You will be missed, best of luck at your new gig 🫡

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points IncidentIll8715

Godspeed brother. Thanks for the stellar content, good luck in your next endeavors.

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points Few-Conclusion-483

Duuuuude. This is terrible news for the wiz Fandom. Congrats on making moves though. Hate to see you go but love to see you progress. If you've the chance, try to hint at your successor to be as involved and awesome as you were here on reddit. Godspeed.

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you! And will def tell them to engage here

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1 points Apprehensive-Toe8519

Bro we love you!! You are the man

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points gabelikesfoodalot300

Thank you for all that you do! I appreciated all the work you put and enjoyed every bit of it. Congratulations on your new opportunity and best of luck to you!

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points kornthrowaway

Just got out of Avatar: Fire and Ash to this sad news. Thanks for the awesome coverage and community interaction. Probably top 3 beat reporter the DC sports scene has seen since you entered the game, and it’s not 2 or 3. I’m sure you’ll kill it at your next opportunity!

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2 points byvarunshankar

Thank you! (How was the movie?)

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1 points kornthrowaway

Of course it looks beautiful, but I feel like the story is getting rather stale lol.

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1 points RoswellHossenfeffer

Sorry to hear this Varun - you’re an excellent reporter. Will the everybody eats podcast continue?

Congratulations on the new opportunity! Keep us posted.

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1 points the_LOR_

Varun - I usually lurk, not a commenter lol, but I have to echo everyone else! Your thoughtful analysis on our struggling team and how you engaged with the fan base has truly been a treat for us all. You’ll be sorely missed! Hopefully we’ll still see you as a guest from time to time with any of the other wizards content creators, but if not, I’m confident you’ll be doing great things with your next gig. Cheers, my guy!

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points rcinfc

Best wishes!!!! Really enjoyed your insight. Can’t wait to see what’s next for you!!!

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points get_too

Damn...we lost a good one

Best of luck with whatever's next Varun

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points rypien2clark

The ATHLETIC? J/k, good luck to wherever you end up!

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points Large-Pair7000

Bro you're a beast and I'm sad to see you go, but honestly happy for you to get away from such a shit employer and covering such a terribly run organization top down. Anything you find is gonna be awesome compared to those fools

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1 points Ye_Biz

Damn thanks for providing great content Varun, it’ll be sorely missed. Best of luck on your next chapter!

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points drmbrthr

Your reporting will be missed.

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points Apprehensive-Toe8519

For real man I was looking forward to your insights for years to come. I couldn’t wait to hear your thoughts once we improved.

You will be missed, we won’t forget the depth of thought and attention you gave this team when basically nobody else in the world was.

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2 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points rayquan36

Damn, the one reporter covering the Wizards leaving already. Thanks for all the coverage this past year!

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1 points byvarunshankar

Thank you!

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1 points Longjumping_Garden95

NOOOOOO

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1 points byvarunshankar

😔

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1 points Dry-Change6160

Hey, get the money take care of your family. Maybe they can elevate Troy Halliburton.

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1 points Infinite-Football795

Come on kid - happy for you! Who covering Wiz next?

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1 points Infinite-Football795

We want a first round pick back from wherever you are going. One of our good young assets!

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1 points Fast_Stick_1593

Thank you for your hard work, good luck in your future endeavours!

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1 points Objective-You-4416

Ay man. You’re one of the few that actually gave a shot other than some of us here that still cares for the wiz. You’ll be missed.

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