The Zach Lowe Show - Podcast Rankings and reviews

This is not breaking news for hard-core followers of the NBA, but listening to (or reading) Zach makes many fans, including me, smarter in their understanding of basketball. He sees the game at a level that is easy to miss unless you’re paying very close attention. And he presents what he sees in a straightforward, professional, and confident manner that is free of attention-seeking or drama. If you love the NBA, this is a must-listen.

It hurts to give three stars to the best talking head in sports. I love Zach, but I hope someone hears this feedback. When he was with ESPN, Zach’s podcast was the best. Cerebral, clever, and divorced from big market bias. He had synergy with guests, and outstanding game and player analysis. Most of that continues to be the case.

However..

Can we please lose the F word? I hate ESPN, but they apparently get credit for having kept the podcast clean. Listening to the Lowe Post together was something my son and I looked forward to. That is no longer the case as the language is unpredictable, and awful in some recent episodes.

Beyond that, what made Zach one-of-a-kind was a high-level intellect paired with an entertaining voice presence. To me, the language has tarnished the gold standard of sports podcasts, and caused him to regress to the mean. Anybody can throw around language in an emotional response to last night’s games (and that is generally what you get from other podcasts). Zach, you’re better than that. What makes you different makes you great. Lean into that and I’ll come back immediately.

Zach’s NBA coverage is second to none and it’s great to see him back podcasting again. The Howard Beck episodes of this new version are must listen, but many of the other guests haven’t been up to par with those who frequented his previous show. Some of these Ringer fanboy bros don’t know nearly as much as they think they do, and seem way more interested in being the cool kid at the lunch table rather than actual adult journalists.

Lowe’s energy and passion for the game is palpable, and he’s a great interviewer. His knowledge and understanding with the ability to articulate educated opinions is very important for basketball.

Zach and his commentary and guests are great! Unfortunately his mic setup is still bad and it sounds like he is shouting across an empty basement toward the mic on a 6 year old laptop. Maybe the Ringer producers can hook him up with some new gear? Otherwise it's punishing to listen to him for very long with the current setup.