With the start of the 2024-25 NBA season just weeks away, ESPN made a major change to its coverage of the league on Thursday, laying off senior writer Zach Lowe.
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand first reported Lowe’s shocking firing, noting that the move was made for budgetary reasons. The move follows similar cuts to ESPN’s NFL coverage when the Worldwide Leader laid off Sam Ponder and Robert Griffin III for similar reported reasons in August.
According to Marchand, Lowe’s departure is expected to be the final cut during this round of ESPN’s layoffs.
Budgetary or not, the news that ESPN let Lowe go sent shockwaves through the NBA and sports media communities. Dating back to his time at the Bill Simmons-led ESPN vertical Grantland, the 47-year-old has widely been considered one of the best and most versatile members of the NBA media, who excels in explaining the Xs and Os of the game on various platforms, including writing, podcasts and television.
The decision to lay off Lowe seemingly indicates that ESPN no longer values—or is at least deemphasizing—the two platforms where he shined most: writing and podcasts. Unsurprisingly, the move resulted in no shortage of reaction across the sports media world, with most comments sharing similar themes of shock and dismay.
Zach is easily one of the most talented people I’ve ever worked with or around in this industry. He absolutely changed how the NBA was covered and how people consumed both stories and pods.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 26, 2024
WHAT
THE
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) September 26, 2024
Zach is very good and will hopefully have a new gig in short order. But man what a brutal business this is https://t.co/Sk67SgqK7y
— Jawn Gonzalez (@JohnGonzalez) September 26, 2024
If this is true, it is galactically stupid. https://t.co/pbfHtnAxBB
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) September 26, 2024
what the fuck
zach is literally one of the best basketball brains on the planet https://t.co/zi5E5YfXKz
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) September 26, 2024
This is ESPN admitting that they can’t monetize their digital audience (page views, podcast downloads) in a way that can support a world class analyst who isn’t also a natural on-camera talent. Depressing. https://t.co/jehkAJMkjH
— Mark Graham (@unclegrambo) September 26, 2024
Zach will find a home for sure, one of the very best writers and NBA analysts in the space, big fumble from ESPN. https://t.co/3sOtCp585u
— Haralabos Voulgaris (@haralabob) September 26, 2024
I’m just a country NBA fan and ex-media reporter, but … I think Lowe operated wonderfully as a sort of loss leader in front of the paywall, helping all of us be better NBA fans –> consuming more ESPN, and was less of a fit behind that specific paywall https://t.co/ol50njtk4H
— marc tracy (@marcatracy) September 26, 2024
Absolute shocker. Nobody has covered the NBA better https://t.co/jiUw4TUNwr
— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) September 26, 2024
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.