Well-known ESPN writer giving up his ballot for NBA award voting

Jan. 4, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; ESPN logo prior to the 2011 Sugar Bowl between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

This season’s panel of NBA award voters will be without one of the biggest writers in the sport.

ESPN senior writer Zach Lowe revealed this week on his “The Lowe Post” podcast that he has voluntarily given up his ballot for NBA award voting. Lowe said he did not feel comfortable with his votes determining financial outcomes for players (though Lowe indicated that it would only be a year-long break).

“I surrendered mine just to take a break,” said Lowe, per Awful Announcing. “I was like, ‘I’m gonna take a break from having a ballot and all the noise.’ Not for All-Star necessarily, but the determination of some bonuses and super maxes. I was like, ‘I’m starting to feel a little icky.’ I’m out of the ballots for a year.”

Lowe is referring to the fact that All-NBA selections, voted on by the media, are one of the factors that determine who is eligible for a supermax contract. The media also votes on All-Defensive teams, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Valuable Player, all of which can decide if individual players cash in on certain incentives in their contracts. Letting the media have that kind of subjective power is controversial to many, and some NBA stars have even called out writers over their biases in deciding on awards.

Granted, Lowe is one of those you would want to make such determinations. He is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable basketball writers around and has been writing in-depth columns for ESPN for over a decade. Lowe also provides great insights on his podcast every week and makes regular appearances on ESPN programming like “NBA Today” as well. But some other media members have made some pretty bad All-NBA voting errors before (including Lowe’s former ESPN colleagues Jalen Rose and Maria Taylor). For at least this season, Lowe wants to take a break from that responsibility.