Ten Ways to Write an NBA Sports Article like Zach Lowe

Zach Lowe is a Senior Writer for ESPN. His beat is the NBA, he is known as one of

the best reporters of this time for his combination of reporting using snappy language and

short Youtube clips in his articles. In this article I will give you ten tips on how to follow in

Mr. Lowe’s footsteps. I also give examples from the articles to help paint a clearer picture. I

choose to focus on Mr. Lowe because he works in a field that I one day hope to start my

career. I found his writing entertaining and very enjoyable to read. I hope this is as fun to read

as his articles tend to be.

By Hillary Wragg

1. The title and picture connection

On the articles, as every other article, he begins with a title and a picture that

shows relevance to the title. On the particular articles is have chosen to analyze

written by Mr. Lowe, the articles all start the same. They each begin with “Ten

things I like and don’t like including…” and at the end he adds a focus that he

talks about deeply that happened week. To add emphasis to the title, the picture is

added to re-iterate what he is focusing on for that week. Under the pictures Mr.

Lowe uses, he adds a small caption that gives some context as to what is

happening in the picture. Also in his titles, Mr. Lowe leaves the reader in an

ambiguous state. By leaving out his actual feelings about the particular focus, he

makes the reader curious and draws them in about his stance on how he feels

throughout the article. The outlier would be article 1 where he adds to the title in

parentheses the number twelve.

Ten (12) things I like and don’t like, including the streaking Miami Heat

(1)

Ten things I like don’t like, including LeBron’s perfect pass (2)

Ten things I like and don’t like, including the joys of Ricky Rubio (3)

Ten things I like and don’t like, including the art of C.J. McCollum (4)

2. Figurative language

As you read the articles written by Mr. Lowe you soon pick up on his informal,

laid back, figurative language. He compares, describes, and analyses the pieces in

a way that paints a picture and sometimes greatly exaggerates the pieces he is

talking about. The figurative language is refreshing as you read through the

article. It makes the reader stop and wonder what he saying and is enjoyable to

read. In the articles he uses alliteration, metaphors, and an assortment of other

language.

They are like a boxer coming forward every second, throwing precise

three- punch combinations at your nose (1)

Bradley Beal Chuckin’

That is a recipe for broken ankles (1)

LeBron’s Perfect Pass (2)

But Snyder’s juggling act will get dicier once Favors hungers for more

time

A Ricky Renaissance, while it lasted (3)

Taj Gibson sculpts a subtle piece of hoops art with this moonwalk re-

screen for butler

They can yelp and clap from their seats when opposing shooters set up

shop nearby, but it’s sort of embarrassing to watch grown men in

expensive suits turn into crazy sports parents.

In the meantime, Johnson has been a jack-of-all-trades bright spot (4)

But in this case, stats tell the exact story – within-a-story Anonymous

Announcer claimed they could not.

3. Adjectives

Zach Lowe uses a lot of descriptive language in these articles. He uses them in all

aspects, such as to describe the players, plays, coaches, and things he doesn’t

agree with. By using this language, the reader is able to understand and get a vivid

interpretation of what Mr. Lowe is saying. I think this is a key feature in his

writing technique as it is well seen throughout the articles.

My favorite regular dash of Curry cleverness: He’s alarmingly good as the

lone defender in two on one situations. (1)

This is the Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant setting a pin down for Klay

Thompson – two of the greatest shooters ever screening to free another of

the greatest shooters ever.

Brown looks shockingly comfortable as a starter – a violent slasher with a

mean-spirited, butt-first post-game to deploy against smaller defenders.

The two giants play the first five or six minutes of each half together, and

on a lot of nights never partner up again. (2)

Boogie is a deadly passer out of double-teams when he takes his time to

scan the floor.

He used to be a pogo-stick offensive rebounder.

The Spurs replaced with him Pau Gasol, slow and ground – bound, lacking

Duncan’s pinpoint ferocity. (3)

He has slippery hands

Amar’e Stoudemire was perhaps the deadliest screen –slipper in league

history. (4)

But in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert, the Nets have two

versatile kiddos flashing more playmaking chops than anyone expected at

this point.

4. Nicknames

Mr. Lowe along with his descriptive and figurative language, also uses

Nicknames throughout his articles. He does one of three things when mentioning

nicknames, he either tells you not to use them, describes a specific event, or is

describing a group or single person.

Do not call them the Splash Triplets. That is horrible.

Thank the basketball gods for Alec Burks, the one Jazz Man with the Zip

and balls to the wall attitude to rush coast to coast and challenge defenders

waiting at the rim.

With Jaylen Brown starting and Avery Bradley out, Brad Stevens;

rejiggered rotation occasionally lands on lineups featuring Brown, Jae

Crowder and Jonas Jerebko – a funky small ball trio that works better than

you’d think.

Ellis still can’t shoot 3s, so no one pays any attention to him chilling in the

corner while Aaron Brooks dribbles or Professor Al Jefferson, Ph.D.,

punk’s newbies on the left block. (2)

The Jazz appear to have decided the much-scrutinized Favors-Rudy

Gobert tag team is not designed to sustain for 20 or 25 minutes per game.

(2)

I nicknamed it “The Brook Lopez Switch” a few years ago, when the Nets

yanked Lopez out of the pick and roll every chance they got. (3)

The Bosnian Beast has coughed it up on 20 percent of the possessions he

has finished with a shot, drawn foul, or turnover – a gargantuan number

for a big man.

They owe two future first round picks to Phoenix via the Goran Dragic

splurge, but they happen to own their pick in a loaded 2017 draft. (4)

That intuitive sense, since Biyombo is much faster than Vooch. (Don’t call

him Vucci Mane.) (4)

5. Negative phrasing

Mr. Lowe writes his articles in a way that leave the reader curious about where he

stands. But as you read through the articles, you find that when he really doesn’t

like something he makes it quite clear.

Unfair Golden State plays

The flailing of Marco Belinelli (1)

Sneering at Mike Conley’s Contract (2)

Derrick Favors, trying to make it work

Shabazz Muhammad, never passing

Coaches, get off the damn floor (3)

Uninformed ‘stats font tell the whole story!’ rants (4)

6. Rhetorical Questions

The articles used by Mr. Lowe always have questions in the beginning. In his

questions, they are usually inclusive and has language that uses language that

makes the reader feel that they have a say. It also guides the reader to think more

like he does by phrasing the questions this particular way.

Are we in capable of fun? Are we all NBA technocrats now, all the time?

(1)

I mean what are we supposed to do?

Have you noticed Ellis doesn’t, like do anything for the Pacers? (2)

Tony Parker is getting older; could the Spurs maintain their stinginess

with Parker and Gasol bookending the defense? (3)

Isn’t it like, part of your job to know what statistics are available on the

NBA’s official website? (4)

7. Basketball Language

Mr. Lowe is very skilled in the beat he is covering. From reading his articles, a

reader may or may not be confused by some of the language he uses. The

language used is mainly one that pertains to basketball lovers. He uses common

terms that are well understood in the basketball language community. To a reader

that is unfamiliar with the terms, it may be confusing, but to long term fans the

phrasing is that of a second language,

The Mavs are 14-12 since bottoming out at 6-20. Curry as stabilized Rick

Carlisle’s backcourt rotation and injuries to Deron Williams J.J. Barea. (1)

Try doing that when you’re back peddling against a pick and roll with 20

on the shot clock, and you’ve barely had time to process where the ball is.

We have wasted airtime and internet ink debating his ability in the

“clutch” with some very loud critics ignoring years and years of evidence

that didn’t fit their prepackaged narrative. (2)

Favors has honed a little shot-put jumper - - almost a floater - - to use on

“short rolls,” where he slips into open space after setting a pick and pulls

up before clanking into Gobert:

He’s shoulder blocking through guys around the rim, and defending with

the energy cross multiple positions (3)

He’ll pickpocket someone, nail a pull-up 3, create a turnover with a

deflection, and then drill a jump-hook - - bam, the spurs have blown open

another game.

Luke Walton gets annoyed when his big men “slip: screens - - NBA lingo

for moving into position to set a hard pick, and jetting toward the rim

before making any contact with the intended victim. (4)

Opponents have outscored the Magic by almost six points per 100

possessions when Bismack Biyombo and Vucevic share the floor, and the

double barreled center setup looks positively retrograde.

8. Verbs used

Within these articles, Mr. Lowe goes far and beyond the basic verb usage used in

many basketball articles. The verbs used are ones that aren’t normally used in the

sports talk, it is far more colorful and enticing to read.

Goran Dragic, twirling and dishing at an All-NBA level again, is racing

the ball up the court on every possession - - after makes, misses, free

throws, timeouts, steals, spilled beer incidents, whatever. (1)

If they have an advantage, it might end with a Utah player catching near

the rim, peeking over his shoulder at an onrushing defender, and spinning

back outside in a panic.

LeBron has seen this a million times: He gets a favorable switch, licks his

chops, goes to work on the wing, and sees an opposing big man - -

Dewayne Delmon here - - creep across the lane to play on his side of the

floor. (2)

When Gobert takes center stage in the pick-and-roll, Favors likes to slink

across the lane from the weak side over toward the ball handler:

Rubio was jacking his midranger, and driving to the rim with a little more

authority - - at least by his standards (3)

Taj Gibson sculpts a subtle piece of hoops art with this moonwalk re-

screen for butler

He needs almost no space to stop on a dime, snap into that straight and

down balance, and rain fire. (4)

But holy hell, is it fun when Julius Randle baits the defense into expecting

a pick, and then revs into top gear for a violent rim run:

9. Statistics

As all sports writers, Mr. Lowe needs facts to help back up his claims and

references that he makes throughout his articles. Mr. Lowe uses statistics to help

establish how good a player is or how terrible of a player they are by using

numbers to show where they stand in the league. This helps the reader judge the

player and fact check Mr. Lowe to check and see if he is correct.

A full 32 percent of theirs 3s have come from the corners, by far the

highest such share in the league.

About 42.4 percent of Beal’s shots have been 3s, up from 34 percent last

season, and Beal is hoisting off the bounce step backers through teensy

windows (1)

He’s taking only 9.3 shots per 36 minutes; he has never averaged below

12.9 attempts per 36 minutes in any other season.

He’s up to 42 percent on 3s, including a tight 50 percent mark from the

corners - - the third straight season he’s at least 40 percent from there (2)

He’s shooting 51 percent, he’s a good passer, and he can bulldoze to the

rim almost whenever he wants.

He’s shooting just 31 percent from deep, he adores toughie isolation shots,

and he’s just not a zippy pick and roll participant. (3)

Since the league started tracking pull-ups in 2013, only three players have

exceeded that mark on five plus attempts per game: Paul and Durant in

2014 -15 (at 47.7 and 48 percent, respectively) and Nowitzki (46.8

percent) the years before.

He’s posting career highs in almost every category, and has drained a

shocking - - and unsustainable - - 38 percent from deep after struggling to

crack the 30 percent barrier over the rest his career. (4)

10. Comparisons

Aside from the descriptive language and statistics, Mr. Lowe uses comparisons to

illustrate how he feels about the things that go on in the basketball world. In these

evaluations Mr. Lowe sometimes compares the specific player to another player

or something else, to illustrate the skills displayed or lacking.

He has a little Manu Ginobili’s calculated gambler in him.(1)

Belinelli is threatening to surpass Russel Westbrook as the league’s most

notorious arm- and leg – splayer on 3 point attempts.

Muhammad has 15 assists – total! – In almost 800 minutes, putting him in

pace for one of the lowest assist seasons in league history for a wing

player who gets the ball so much. (2)

He flashed some dribbling derring-do , and launched Kevin Love level

outlet passes: (3)

Morris has never played this hard over an extended stretch, He’ll never

unearth the Draymond Lite skill set that is buried within him somewhere.

It’s time to start talking about McCollum as one of the pure shooters alive,

along with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant,

Kyle Korver, Chris Paul, and a few others. (4)

Keeping up with McCollum around a pick – being almost on this hip –

isn’t good enough unless you can reach around him, Kawhi Leonard-style,

and contest his shot from behind.