It’s 9 a.m., and we are tucked into a couple of club chairs in the lobby bar area of the Vdara in Las Vegas, sipping coffee and talking hoops. Summer league games don’t begin for another three hours and this hotel, one of the few on the strip without a casino, is a relatively calm oasis from the tumult. For that reason, some NBA teams and league personnel prefer to stay here during the two weeks of action in July.

I am sitting with Shams Charania, who, at 24, has become such a high-profile NBA news hound that he has inspired at least 20 faux Twitter accounts. In the lobby, players, scouts, GM’s and agents are milling around, getting caffeinated at the hotel’s Starbucks for another day of wall-to-wall games. A slow and steady flow of NBA insiders make their way over to us, trading handshakes, greetings and even a little info with Shams. One thing is certain—they are not here to talk to me.

Over the next 90 minutes, as our visitors come and go, Shams’ phone lights up like a winning slot machine. He glances at the device and quickly decides whether to respond or not. Many times he ignores the text message and continues our conversation; other times he types out a short note. After draining the coffee and finishing our discussion, we stand up to say good-bye. With a slight smile, he shows me his phone.

Warriors free agent Zaza Pachulia has agreed to a one-year, $2.4M deal with the Detroit Pistons, league sources tell Yahoo. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 8, 2018

Yes, Shams broke that nugget on Twitter while we were chatting.

I have known Shams since 2015 when I flew to Chicago to have breakfast with him. Back then, I was the editor of Sports Illustrated and he was attending Loyola University Chicago and starting to make a name for himself in NBA circles. After spending time together it was clear that the only thing bigger than Shams’ blossoming talent was his competitive nature and desire to get better. It was an impressive combination. I returned to New York and subsequently offered him a job, but the timing was not right and Shams instead landed at Yahoo!, where he continued his evolution as a writer and transactional terror. Among his greatest hits: Dwight Howard’s move to the Hawks, Luol Deng’s deal with the Lakers, the signings of Steph Curry and Blake Griffin and Boogie Cousins—the list goes on and on.

Fast forward. Here we are now, more than three years later, and it is a thrill to welcome Shams to The Athletic to help usher in a national NBA vertical that we will unveil in a few weeks. In addition to staying on top of the news, Shams, who officially starts on Aug. 24, will write features, enterprise and longform stories. Luckily, we convinced Shams to put his phone down long enough to answer some questions about himself, how he does what he does, and the coming NBA season.

Paul Fichtenbaum: You’re only 24—how did someone so young become an NBA news breaking machine?

Shams Charania: I realized that I needed to fulfill my passion for the NBA in ways other than playing, and I always loved writing and the behind-the-scenes aspect of the league, so I combined both. I began writing for my high school newspaper as a junior and started a Bulls blog on ChicagoNow, a subsidiary of the Chicago Tribune, where I would write several stories/recaps/analysis articles per day. I began reporting on 10-day deals, too. After some reps under my belt as my senior year began, I reached out to RealGM.com and was fortunate to forge a relationship with them. I started covering games during my senior year, driving up to Milwaukee for Bucks games, which was an important experience. My first Las Vegas Summer League, in 2013, was also a critical moment, allowing me to put faces to names and meet new people. It’s always been about continuing to push and looking long-term with every relationship—and trying to take something from those whom I admire to paint my own picture. There also are a lot of high-character and open-minded people in the industry who gave me a chance.

Fichtenbaum: Is your age an advantage in connecting with players?

Shams: I definitely believe there is an ability to relate there, especially with some of the more recent draft classes, but the way you carry yourself and respect people goes a long way with people of all ages. The guys entering the league today are increasingly well-versed in how to handle themselves on and off the floor—and that includes the way they deal with media and work on their own brands.

Fichtenbaum: Take us through your life 24 hours before the trade deadline or the start of free agency?

Shams: It’s obviously much more hectic and time-sensitive during those times, but the level of dialogue has been there, hopefully, all year. I’ll always try to be in as much of a focused bunker as possible. Trades can be a bit more precarious, but free agency allows me to plan ahead because most teams are incredibly detailed and are doing a lot of prep in the time leading up. Those 24 hours before are definitely as tunnel vision as it gets.

Fichtenbaum: What’s your goal here at The Athletic? What are you hoping to accomplish?

Shams: I envision myself working closely with the established editors and continuing to combine reporting news year-round with determination while doing feature and longform stories. I hope to continue improving as a writer. There is a lot of storytelling that I want to do and I’m excited to work with the tremendous writers on board at The Athletic. They are a great group and I’m excited to work with them.

Fichtenbaum: What are the three best storylines heading into the 2018-19 season?

Shams: Here goes…

LeBron James’ transition to the Lakers. LeBron still has his grip on the league, having won three of his eight consecutive Finals appearances. He’s joining an evolving Lakers roster, but how the Lakers’ season progresses will dictate the series of events — trades, success or otherwise — that shape his first season. Kawhi Leonard’s future. Leonard will remain professional in Toronto, and he’s already begun acclimating to the city. His preference of Los Angeles—either the Clippers or Lakers—was apparent once he requested out from San Antonio, but the Raptors clearly will show him reasons to stay. Leonard is arguably the best player in the NBA when healthy, so his future will have a major impact around the league. With the upside of Leonard, plus the ability to potentially move toward a rebuild if Leonard leaves, the Raptors have options for their franchise’s direction Does Boston run away with the East? With a healthy Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, the Celtics are favorites in the East. And their success will surely shape much of the discussion about Irving’s future.

Not on board yet? Try The Athletic free for a week with this link and get access to ALL the quality, ad-free coverage on the site: theathletic.com/welcomeshams