ESPN has parted ways with another big-name NBA talent, as writer and on-air analyst Zach Lowe has reportedly been laid off.
Lowe began at the company in 2012 as a writer for the ESPN-owned (and now-defunct) site Grantland, before taking his talents to ESPN.com and on TV with NBA Today and NBA Countdown.
The news was first reported by The Athletic.
Lowe is said to have been making in excess of $1million per year, which was reportedly the main factor in the company’s decision to let him go.
Lowe’s departure follows the retirement of ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowksi, and the layoffs of Robert Griffin III and Sam Ponder.
Zach Lowe has reportedly been laid off by ESPN in a cost-cutting measure by the network
Zach Lowe became a fan favorite of ESPN’s basketball coverage with his blunt analysis
Like those moves, the decision to layoff Lowe was part of the company’s fiscal year planning, The Athletic said.
He declined comment to the outlet.
The move has been widely criticized by Lowe’s media peers, with Yahoo! Sports senior NBA writer Dan Devine calling it ‘galactically stupid.’
Meanwhile, PHLY Sports Sixers writer Derek Bodner compared the move to ‘waiv[ing] Michael Jordan.’
Lowe surely won’t be short of suitors, with many suggesting that he could reunite with his old Grantland boss Bill Simmons at The Ringer.
Regardless, it’s a stunning move from ESPN.
