Zach Lowe has a powerful argument for being the perfect sportswriter in America proper now. In fact, sportswriter solely partially describes Lowe’s function at ESPN over the past a number of years: he’s been a staple on tv as a panelist on NBA At present, and he hosts the perfect podcast overlaying the league, The Lowe Put up. Throughout a time when sports activities media feels prefer it’s 80 p.c screaming speaking heads or goal clickbait, Lowe was in a position to cowl the NBA by way of an analytical and tactical lens that by no means felt too pretentious for the on a regular basis fan, whereas additionally doing authentic reporting.
On Thursday, ESPN made the stunning resolution to put off Lowe simply weeks forward of the opening of the 2024-2025 NBA season. I say stunning and never gorgeous, as a result of: a) ESPN has been shedding loads of workers recently, b) nobody in sports activities media can declare to have actual job safety. Nonetheless, letting go of somebody as proficient and fashionable as Lowe simply because he was deservingly paid a excessive wage is an especially upsetting resolution for the corporate that claims to be the worldwide chief in sports activities.
As my previous good friend Tom Ziller astutely identified, ESPN simply shelled out billions of {dollars} to be included within the league’s subsequent media rights deal. You’d suppose an organization that has a major monetary curiosity in getting individuals excited in regards to the NBA would wish to hold round a superb but affable analyst who was all the time uncovering new issues to get enthusiastic about across the league. Sadly, that might be giving ESPN an excessive amount of credit score.
Lowe is your favourite basketball author’s favourite basketball author. A former highschool trainer turned crime reporter, Lowe acquired his large break in sports activities writing when he was employed to run Sports activities Illustrated’s Level Ahead weblog. A pair years later he was employed by Invoice Simmons’ legendary Grantland website, the place he totally emerged because the NBA’s most important author. Lowe was one of many first on-line basketball writers to interrupt down offensive units and defensive coverages like a coach would. He has all the time had a seamless skill to combine analytics into his writing and podcasting with out going over the top of the reader and listener. Today, on-line basketball writing is full of many Lowe proteges, although few do it in addition to he does.
Lowe by no means misplaced his curiosity as he juggled his rising tasks at ESPN after Grantland shut down. He’s a nerd in the absolute best approach, diving into the trivia of the league and the storylines effervescent beneath the floor for all 30 groups. He’s additionally a wonderful reporter: his final podcast for ESPN that includes new Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick was a clinic on ask robust questions on the file and power insightful solutions out of your topics (Redick divulged his beginning lineup and the way he coped with the Lakers’ curiosity in Danny Hurley, amongst different matters).
At the same time as he blew up into a giant identify with legit sources, Lowe nonetheless had the center of an underdog. When he wasn’t bringing present coaches and gamers on his podcast, he would come with a pleasant mixture of large J journalists with upstart bloggers. It was so heartwarming to see him give his giant platform to sensible analysts like Caitlin Cooper, Mike Prada, Nekias Duncan, and Steve Jones over time. The Lowe Put up toed the road between being entertaining and informative with out ever feeling like its host had an inflated ego.
On a private word, I used to be all the time grateful Lowe devoted air time to eulogize my good friend Jonathan Tjarks, who tragically handed of most cancers two years in the past. Lowe used the opening of his podcast to element what made Tjarks such an incisive author with a singular eye for the sport. I’m sure nobody was asking Lowe to do this, however he did it as a result of Tjarks’ life and work deserved extra recognition. That’s simply the type of man Lowe is.
There are too many nice Lowe items to select from as a favourite. I fondly recall his breakdown of the Monty Williams-era Phoenix Suns’ devastating pick-and-roll assault, or his deep dive into how the Thunder put the 73-win Warriors on the heels. As Lowe transitioned to doing extra podcasting and tv, his written breakdowns turned rather less frequent. It appeared like he was urged by ESPN to speak in regards to the Los Angeles Lakers or potential offseason motion extra usually lately. One potential silver lining of his ESPN departure is that he could really feel extra empowered to chase the matters he’s actually captivated with at his subsequent residence.
ESPN’s resolution is infuriating for NBA followers who like good protection, however Lowe himself will probably be positive. He’ll both rapidly land a job overlaying the league for an additional outlet, or possibly he’ll be part of a group’s entrance workplace. As a fan of the eternally hopeless Chicago Bulls, let me use this chance to beg them to fireside Arturas Karnisovas and rent Lowe as a substitute.
ESPN nonetheless had loads of good basketball protection, however dropping Lowe and Adrian Wojnarowski in the identical offseason goes to harm. Subsequent time you flip in your tv and there’s two speaking heads spewing loud nonsense about basketball, simply comprehend it didn’t must be this fashion.
