After a few years of expectation and dialogue over Zach Edey’s worth as a possible NBA participant, the large man has lastly made it to the large stage because the No. 9 general decide of the 2024 NBA Draft. The faculty star shall be taking his seven-foot-four body to Memphis this yr to start his profession as a basketball skilled.
The reality is, the previous Purdue athlete has greater than sufficient causes that again him up as a future star of the league. He not too long ago grew to become the primary participant in over 4 many years to earn The Related Press’ mens’ school basketball participant of the yr award in consecutive seasons. His new basic supervisor trusts this was their finest final result.
“Zach Edey is a very particular match [for the franchise],” mentioned Grizzlies’ Zach Kleiman as soon as the primary spherical was over. “In attending to know him, we’re speaking about somebody whose competitiveness is thru the roof, care issue is thru the roof. No ego, simply needs to win.”
🗣️BIG DAWG 🗣️
WELCOME TO THE M @zach_edey 〽️@SouthlandGaming | #GrizzDraft24 pic.twitter.com/ytos2EffJS
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) June 27, 2024
Now we will solely wait to see how his freakishly large measurement will translate to the NBA courts, as he shall be one of many tallest gamers within the league this coming season. Final yr, Houston’s Boban Marjanovic, Phoenix’s Bol Bol and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama have been all listed at 7-foot-3 or taller.
Zach has loved regular development all through his school years, averaging 22.3 factors and 12.9 rebounds as a junior, after which 25.2 factors and 12.2 rebounds throughout his senior season which took the Boilermakers all the way in which to the NCAA title recreation towards Connecticut. “It is a dream come true,” he mentioned in a press release. “Memphis has such an important core, and I’m actually excited to get down there and work.”
As talked about earlier than, Edey is just one of six gamers who’ve earned the AP participant of the yr accolade on multiple event. “We couldn’t be extra thrilled to land him on this draft,” Kleiman insisted. “Let’s simply say, that is precisely what we have been hoping would occur.”
Memphis are coming off a poor marketing campaign (27-55) which was marred by accidents. The roster noticed 33 totally different gamers put on the Grizzlies uniform all through the season, as key athletes corresponding to Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Good and Brandon Clarke all suffered well being points.
The Grizzles basic supervisor is satisfied that there are numerous misconceptions about Edey’s protection and flexibility
When Zach Kleiman was initially requested if the membership was centered on Donovan Clingan, who was taken that night time because the seventh general decide by Portland, he answered: “I haven’t seen that reported anyplace.” However because the media continued to press on the matter, he then pushed away any doubts: “I’m saying that is how we wished the draft to play out.”
Controversial takes have at all times surrounded Edey’s profession, as many consultants urged he didn’t have the physique kind or expertise to thrive within the NBA. The Memphis basic supervisor assured that each one these are misconceptions concerning the rising star.
Opposite to what many say, Kleiman truly believes Zach is a robust defender and may present lots of versatility on the ground. “We’ve got choices now,” he defined. “… In our frontcourt now, there’s lots of alternative ways we will play.”
He then shared: “We now have — from a measurement standpoint, from a physicality standpoint — that’s one thing that different groups are going to should grapple with. We wish to have seems to be that we will throw on the market that give us the benefit. Allow them to work out the way to take care of us.”
