Not too many established NBA media members are still attending college — Atlanta Hawks multi-media journalist Zach Langley is one of the few.
There are also not too many 20-year-old sports journalists that match up with Langley’s combination of crazy superstitions, professionalism and reliability, which have helped Langley explode onto the Hawks basketball scene.
Zach Langley takes an intricate approach to covering Hawks basketball. He’s a student of the game, and he applies his coverage as if he were the coach of the Atlanta Hawks. Once he sits down, Langley thinks to himself: How is Dyson Daniels going to stop Anthony Edwards’ step-back, wing three that he’s been working on like a madman during warm-ups? How has Kristaps Porzingis fared against the Timberwolves?
His passion for the game is already there. Whether that’s always toting around the book How To Watch Basketball Like a Genius by Nick Greene or superstitiously wearing the same red quarter zip that he wore the last time the Hawks won.
Atlanta Roots
Langley never really left Atlanta; he was always around the historical city.
He grew up all over Georgia. A childhood that consisted of time spent in Kennesaw, Acworth, and Powder Springs.
“[Growing up around Atlanta] really helped me blossom,” Langley said. “It made me who I am today. That can be attested to by my family and friends. I’ve always been in a good, stable environment that has helped me grow.”
Being around Atlanta helped make basketball a staple in his life. “Basketball has always been a huge part of my development as a person. I was always active, playing football, baseball and basketball.”
The 2010s Atlanta Hawks
Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and Al Horford: the core of the 2014-15 Atlanta Hawks. Finishing the regular season with the No. 1 seed and falling short of the NBA Finals at the mercy of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Langley admired the team at a really young age.
“They really made me fall in love with basketball [in second grade],” Langley stated. “Not just with the Hawks, but basketball in general, because of the way they moved the ball, the way they rotated defensively and just played strict team ball.”
Langley’s commitment to the Hawks never wavered and his dad made sure of it.
“My dad made it a thing to go out to a game or two [during the 2015-16 season]. It became a thing where I was so close to Atlanta, why not go see them in person. Then I got to middle school and we got a 10-game package and so we made sure to get out to at least 10 games a year.”
Langley highlighted the fact that the Hawks at that time had tenacious defenders all over the court, great coaching, and everything that makes up a successful basketball squad. Even though Langley enjoyed these gritty teams, the idea of what they would look like with a real star player always loomed inside his head.
One Thing Missing
“The one thing they were missing was a superstar, which they finally got in 2018 in Trae [Young].”
Langley fell in love with a well-balanced, well-structured era of the Hawks that lacked a truly transcendent player. The moment the Hawks drafted Young, Langley became OBSESSED.
A passionate young Hawks fan becomes a die-hard Hawks writer and analyst — AKA the Trae Young effect.
Langley began covering the team as a hobby, of course, since there was nothing he could change about him being the young age of 15. Attending high school in Powder Springs, Langley’s fandom and journalism aspirations were enough for him to begin a sports media career. In his sophomore year at Hill Grove H.S., he would start a website called Hawks Scoop.
“It was an Instagram account and website where I provided daily Hawks coverage,” said Langley. “It helped me get my foot in the door of sports media and gave me a real following and voice in Atlanta Hawks Basketball.”
Hawks Scoop would become the foundation of his basketball media career. He was posting every day, several times a day, and he was writing articles on the website.
“That helped me have a prominent voice in Atlanta sports media,” Langley said. “That helped me get the following I have now. When I took Hawks Scoop down, it was a seamless transition into the jobs that I currently have. I’m really thankful for what I did then, because it’s resulted in me getting credentials with the Hawks.”
Skills Improved
Langley eventually took the site down in June of 2025. He had successfully built and finished his own self-created internship — a feat not many can say they accomplished.
Langley gives most of the credit to his website in reference to where he is now. However, he would soon realize that a non-basketball related job would also provide a significant impact to his current position as an NBA media member.
“My most recent job was at an escape room actually,” Langley laughed. “I was greeting people at the door and bringing them back to the escape room. I was explaining the rules. It was just a summer gig, during a time that basketball wasn’t being played. It helped me become more of an extrovert and it helped me succeed. I had to memorize scripts and get into character. I wouldn’t be where I am without that position.”
Realizing he needed to take the Hawks coverage more seriously, Langley used his ambition and take the initiative to apply for Fansided and Fanarch. His connections and following he built over the years through independent coverage landed him his dreams jobs.
The second grader that watched the Atlanta Hawks in person with his dad—elated by the experience—was finally and officially on the Atlanta Hawks media coverage map.
An Explosion of a Start in Media
As a credentialed media member of an NBA team, most people starting out who get that privilege just come in, stay to themselves, and observe. They often walk away mind blown at the thought of covering their first press conference or talking to an NBA player for the first time in their career.
Rarely is a media member recognized by a player right away, let alone a rookie media member in the industry dealing with imposter syndrome, fearing he wouldn’t belong. Against all odds, Langley’s career with Fansided: Soaring Down South, started off with a bang in his first appearance as a credentialed NBA media member.
“We were all asking Vit Krejci questions and eventually I was able to ask one,” explained Langley. “I asked my question and I don’t even remember what I asked him, but he gave me a full nuanced answer. After the response he added, ‘By the way, I love your podcast [Hawks Latest on FanArch].’ People were talking to me afterwards and saying that’s never happened before. That was so appreciated, being my first media day.”
The feeling of imposter syndrome didn’t last long.
A Monumental Moment for Zach Langley
Langley has had an eventful start to his NBA media career. Not only did his podcast get recognized by Krejci, just a mere three months into the season his favorite player of all time was traded away from the Hawks.
Langley, as a young 13-year-old, bought Trae Young’s Jersey almost immediately after the Hawks made the deal with the now franchise leader in assists and three-pointers. He had Young’s back through all of the criticism and discourse about his deficiencies. The same loyalty Young showed to Atlanta, Langley showed to Young.
Fast forward seven-and-a-half years later, Langley was in the building when the announcement was made.
“That was unreal,” Langley said. “All of the media members were on their laptops and watching the game [against the Pelicans]. Then all of a sudden, people are starting to look at their phones, and saying stuff. I turned my phone over and I see the report from Shams.”
“The fact that I was in media when we traded one of the best players in franchise history, I’ll always remember that moment.”
Jalen Johnson the Future?
A huge reason why the Hawks decided to trade Young was the emergence of 24-year-old star Jalen Johnson.
Johnson is having one of the greatest seasons in Atlanta Hawks history. Earlier this month, he joined Luka as the only players in the last 50 years to average 25/10/10 on 60% TS% over a 15-plus game span before age 25.
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The Hawks have given him the chance to become the engine of this franchise because he’s been doing it on a consistent basis through the first few months of the season at a supreme level.
“He is having an incredible season and should be named All-Star for the first time in his career,” Langley said. “He’s definitely a guy who they are going to build around. Remember though, we have the better pick out of the Bucks and Pelicans and in a loaded draft; that could be the player that the Hawks build around for the future. But, for now it will be Johnson’s team.”
Shooting for the Stars
Langley is busier than ever at this moment. On top of attending his final year of college at Georgia State, he is navigating this new profession and soaking up as much as he can so he can build on his resume for future goals and aspirations.
“I just want to excel with [Fansided and FanArch],” Langley said. “I want to grow into the higher ranks, [eventually] work for ESPN, or Sports Illustrated.”
Langley holds himself to a high standard. “I feel like I’m on a solid trajectory. It’s a matter of staying locked in and staying on course. I want to continue to build a bigger platform for myself and become a better writer and a better journalist.”
Many 20-year-olds are playing NBA 2K and watching games from their couches, dreaming of asking an NBA player a question or being remotely involved in the NBA. Langley is doing it for his team that has potentially the best player in the Eastern Conference; it doesn’t get better than that.
Growth Mindset
Langley’s consistency, dedication and passion has put him in a great position going forward. He’s made the connections with Kevin Chouinard, Steven Holman, and Bob Rathbun; all of whom are staples in Atlanta Hawks coverage. He’s met all of the prominent people in the Hawks organization, including the best Hawks writers.
Langley has aways had the nucleus around him to thrive in the community, and he knows that his growth and ascension will be substantial to propel him further — much like the growth that the Hawks have showcased this season. The Hawks of now are young, aggressive, ambitious and ascending; all characteristics that define Langley’s career path.
“I’m grateful for the foundation I have and the community I’ve built,” Langley explained. “I couldn’t have entered this field at a better time. As the new-look Hawks continue to grow, so will I. My first official year in the media space has been thrilling, and I’m beyond excited to keep challenging myself as I progress in my abilities.”
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