In a significant development within the sports journalism landscape, senior NBA writer Zach Lowe has been dismissed by ESPN, as reported by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.
Lowe’s tenure at ESPN spanned over a decade, commencing in 2012 when he joined Bill Simmons’ acclaimed Grantland vertical after an impactful stint at Sports Illustrated. Notably, he was among the select few Grantland contributors who successfully transitioned to ESPN following the vertical’s closure in 2015; another notable figure was NFL writer Bill Barnwell.
According to The Athletic, the primary impetus behind Lowe’s departure was his substantial salary, exceeding $1 million annually. In addition to his writing contributions, Lowe frequently graced the screens of “NBA Today,” ESPN’s flagship daily program dedicated to basketball, and hosted the widely followed “Lowe Post” podcast.
Lowe’s exit coincides with the recent and unexpected layoffs of prominent figures such as Robert Griffin III and Samantha Ponder, which occurred just before the onset of the football season.
However, a silver lining for Lowe may exist, as the timing aligns with NBC and Amazon’s pursuits to acquire NBA talent ahead of their league rights agreements slated to commence in 2025. This scenario presupposes that Amazon’s package is contingent upon the favorable resolution of TNT’s ongoing lawsuit against the NBA.
The news of Lowe’s departure follows the recent shock of Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN’s lead NBA reporter, leaving the network to take on the role of general manager for his alma mater, St. Bonaventure’s men’s basketball team.
In a poignant announcement on X, Wojnarowski reflected on his journey: “I grew up the son of a factory worker two miles from ESPN’s campus and only ever dreamed of making a living as a sportswriter. This craft transformed my life, but I’ve decided to retire from ESPN and the news industry. I understand the commitment required in my role and it’s an investment that I’m no longer driven to make. Time isn’t in endless supply, and I want to spend mine in ways that are more personally meaningful.”