Listener sentiment
Longtime listeners still widely regard Zach Lowe as the best basketball analyst in podcasting — smart, balanced, and generous with credit — and most reviews remain loyal to the show even when frustrated. But since his move to The Ringer, criticism has grown sharper and more specific. The dominant recurring complaints are guest quality (Mo Dakhil, Michael Pina, Kirk Goldsberry, Howard Beck, and various Ringer personalities are repeatedly called out as bland or superficial, while analysts like Rob Mahoney and Caitlin Cooper are the pairings listeners want more of), Zach's tendency to deliver long monologues before letting guests speak, and pervasive profanity that parents who once listened with their kids say makes episodes unlistenable for them. A newer strain of sentiment holds that the show has declined at The Ringer specifically — more recycled storylines about the same few teams, less granular tape breakdown, and weaker guests than the ESPN Lowe Post era — with several formerly devoted listeners saying they now skip episodes or have dropped the show. The Mets Corner baseball segment and Ringer-heavy bookings remain divisive, while ad and sponsorship complaints are occasional one-offs rather than a pattern.
Apple4.7 · 355
Summary generated Oct 21, 2026
