The Zach Lowe Show

Brian Scalabrine, former NBA player and current Celtics analyst, breaks down Boston’s win, Wembanyama’s MVP-level impact, and the chaos in the East. Moussa Diabaté, Hornets forward known for high-effort defense, chats about his Moose nickname, team chemistry, fasting for Ramadan, and his hopes for France and Charlotte’s rise.

Mo Dakhil, NBA reporter and analyst who debates awards and team arcs. Tate Frazier, college hoops reporter who previews Sweet 16 matchups. They discuss Jalen Williams's return and OKC lineups. They argue MVP contenders and dissect a messy Eastern conference. They reveal All-Rookie picks and Tate walks through the must-watch Sweet 16 games and storylines.

Kirk Goldsberry, noted basketball analyst known for spatial and statistical NBA work, breaks down Detroit’s outlook after Cade Cunningham’s collapsed lung. They debate the 65-game All-NBA rule. Boston’s emergence in the East, Giannis and Milwaukee’s tension, and why the Lakers and Luka’s teams are surging in the West get sharp tactical takes.

Sam Morril, stand-up comic and die-hard Knicks fan who runs a comedic 'Knicks Hate Index.' David Jacoby, basketball writer and podcaster known for deep NBA takes. Howard Beck, veteran NBA reporter with long Knicks coverage. They draft the wildest Knicks moments from Linsanity to brawls and scandals. They debate playoff paths, roster warts, and rank the teams Knicks fans love to hate in a lively New York set.

Rob Mahoney, sharp NBA writer known for deep analysis, and Jon Krawczynski, Timberwolves beat reporter and team insider. They discuss Shea Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic scoring streak and what it means for MVP talk. They react to Bam Adebayo’s 83-point outburst and the context around it. Then they dig into Minnesota’s slump, lineup questions, and the urgency for a defensive reset.

John Hollinger, NBA analyst known for metrics and awards takes on the SGA vs Jokic MVP debate and All-Defensive team picks. Nick Friedell, veteran Warriors reporter dissects Golden State’s season, lineup choices, Kuminga split, and roster futures. They also weigh Tatum’s return and strategic league-wide adjustments in short, lively conversations.

Zach is joined by Chris Ryan to react to the news that Jayson Tatum may be ready to return. Then, they draft the players they love and hate to watch and share their thoughts on Luke Kornet vs. Magic City. Next, voice of the Raptors Jack Armstrong comes on to discuss the Raptors since their title win and what the future holds for this year’s team. (0:00) Welcome to The Zach Lowe Show! (2:27) Chris Ryan joins the show! (3:02) Jayson Tatum is nearly back (9:11) Drafting players we love to watch (48:21) Drafting players we hate to watch (56:59) Luke Kornet vs. Magic City (1:04:13) Jack Armstrong joins the show! (1:06:53) How would you describe the post-title time for the Raptors (1:19:34) Don’t think I see the roadmap for this team becoming great (1:31:35) Is Scottie Barnes good enough to be ‘the guy’ Host: Zach Lowe Guests: Chris Ryan and Jack Armstrong Producers: Mike Wargon, Jonathan Frias, and Billy Gil Social: Keith Fujimoto This episode is sponsored by Anthropic, the team behind Claude. Try Claude for free today at Claude.ai/lowe The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mo Dakhil, basketball analyst and podcaster known for X's-and-O's breakdowns, joins to discuss Giannis’s return and what it means for Milwaukee. They run through the tight 6–11 race in the East, touching on Philly, Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, and Charlotte. Then they shift West to debate whether the Nuggets are slipping and if the Thunder have become the league’s villains.

Tim Legler, former NBA guard turned ESPN analyst, breaks down Cade Cunningham’s playmaking, clutch habits, and MVP positioning. Dwyane Wade, Hall of Famer and three-time champ, shares Miami memories, championship prep, and his move into media. They also discuss Spurs’ upside and next-tier MVP candidates in concise, spirited conversations.

Michael Pina, NBA reporter and analyst who breaks down league trends, joins to discuss Spurs handling Detroit's physicality and how Wembanyama and Castle responded. They rank the chaotic 3–7 stretch in the Western Conference and debate Denver's upside. They close with a candid look at Zion Williamson's shifting role and a bright spot from a tanking team.