“It’s kind of … your brain’s spinning.” Bill Simmons had the perfect response to describe how many would feel after Zach Lowe’s firing by ESPN. After all, with Doc Rivers and JJ Redick’s exit, Van Gundy’s firing, and Adrian Wojnarowski’s recent resignation, the 47-year-old reporter being laid off marks another significant loss to the network’s NBA division. Furthermore, with just a few days remaining until the 2024-25 preseason commences, one must be racking their brains trying to figure out the reasoning behind Lowe’s firing. As it turns out, the decision may very well have been made to prop up another one of ESPN’s key reporters.

Bill Simmons highlighted that, as expected, Zach Lowe was trending on X in light of the recent update. What was surprising, however, was that Kendrick Perkins’ name was trending alongside him. The host commented: “People were looking at this like ESPN is choosing this ‘Kendrick Perkins direction’ of their basketball coverage over the ‘Zach Lowe direction.’” After joining ESPN in 2018, the former Warriors player became famous for adopting a certain ‘hot-take style’. Therefore, according to reports, Perkins was given preference over Lowe, who had been with ESPN for 12 years and followed an analytical coverage style, which did not sit well with many. However, Bill Simmons had to admit that Perkins’ style appealed to the masses the most.

“I don’t necessarily blame Kendrick for some of the stuff he says, or the way he’s trying to provoke people, because they’re telling him to do that,” said Simmons during a recent segment of his podcast.  “If you’re being produced a certain way, if you’re being incentivized a certain way and you’re on TV, and you want to gain more and more power, you want to be on TV more, you want to make more money, you’re gonna do what the people are like ‘That was great. I loved what you said about how Jayson Tatum isn’t an alpha. Just stare in the camera and do that again for 90 seconds.’ And that’s just the way this s**t’s gonna go.”

ESPN has had quite a few controversial layoffs. The network was again in the news last year after laying off 20 of its on-air talents. The list even included known NBA personalities like Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose. In the aftermath, questions were raised over why Stephen A. Smith remained untouched. Unlike the rest of his former co-workers, Smith carried a unique storytelling style. From being bold and opinionated to reportedly controversial on several occasions, the sportscaster knows how to grab the audience’s attention. He didn’t just discuss things normally but would often raise his voice and then immediately lower the pitch, displaying a certain level of passion towards the topic he was covering. This may have been a major reason for the viewership of his ‘First Take’ show to jump from 482,000 viewers to 504,000 viewers from February and April!

Kendrick Perkins has been following in the same shoes as his ESPN co-worker. From reportedly implying that the voters who selected Nikola Jokic for MVP were ‘racist’ to criticizing Steve Kerr and calling LeBron James ‘sensitive’, the former player has had moments when he hasn’t been perceived in a good light. However, these controversial incidents kept him in the news. His show got more attention due to them. While this reality may or may not have played a role in Zach Lowe’s firing, Bill Simmons believes that the only ones who can change it are the people themselves.

“So, the people that just b***h about it, just don’t watch,” the podcaster continued. “That’s really the only way any of this stuff’s going to change. If you don’t like this direction, wherever we’re going, you don’t have to watch it.”

Bill Simmons’ argument about ESPN following the ‘Kendrick Perkins direction’ may have some merit. At the same time, it is hard to determine what long-term goals the network holds. Who knows, Lowe’s exit may just be one part of a plan to help the network fill Adrian Wojnarowski’s void.

Did Shams Charania indirectly cause Zach Lowe’s firing?

According to ‘The Athletic’, Zach Lowe’s firing and his seven-figure salary had a link. After all, cutbacks were warranted after ESPN spent $2.5 billion to renew its media rights deal. Details of Lowe’s pay have not been made known to the public. However, it is speculated that the reporter earned at least $1 million a year. When looking at how Stephen A. Smith works under a $12 million a year deal, the number for Lowe would not seem that excessive. However, when making space for Adrian Wojnarowski’s potential replacement, every dollar and space for coverage needs to be accounted for.

In a recent segment of Basketball Bulletin, NBA reporter Trevor Lane stated, “Letting go of Zack Lowe, is that I’m speculating here, but is that to free up perhaps more money to go chase after Shams Charania, and throw the bag at him? Now that Shams is very clearly the guy in NBA news breaking, now there’s also going to be though a power vacuum here. And not just from Woj now, but from Zach Lowe as well.”

When deciding upon Adrian Wojnarowski’s ESPN successor, the obvious choice would be his former prodigy. His fiercest competitor of many years. Furthermore, it helps that Charania will soon be a free agent. However, what doesn’t help is that both NBC and Amazon have shown an interest in acquiring the reporter. Therefore, ESPN must make Charania an offer he cannot refuse. By firing Zach Lowe, the network made some additions to its salary cap. At the same time, it left a spot for Woj’s replacement to receive more news coverage.

Following The ‘Kendrick Perkins direction’ or saving up money for Shams Charania? Which theory do you resonate with? Let us know in the comments down below.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.