What is ESPN's plan for NBA coverage? That's the question many people have been left asking in the wake of the news that Zach Lowe has been laid off by the sports network right before the season begins.

Former ESPN columnist Bill Simmons piled onto the avalanche that has collapsed on the “Worldwide Leader” for firing Zach Lowe on Thursday. Simmons said on “ The Bill Simmons Podcast ” that the Worldwide Leader “lost its soul” when it fired his close friend Lowe, whom the Ringer founder employed at his ESPN vertical, Grantland, from 2011-15.

The talk of the NBA world this week was once again revolving around ESPN, with many fans and media members shocked at the decision they made to lay off veteran NBA reporter Zach Lowe. Lowe, who had worked at ESPN for 12 years,