Grizzlies Rookie Zach Edey Makes History in Victory Over Pistons
The Memphis Grizzlies secured a crucial victory on Saturday night against the Detroit Pistons.
In the absence of star Ja Morant, Memphis was led by an impressive performance from Desmond Bane, who topped all scorers with 38 points. Jaren Jackson Jr. also contributed 27 points in the win, alongside a record-setting performance from rookie center Zach Edey.
Edey recorded an impressive 21 rebounds in the win, surpassing Bryant Reeves’ franchise record for rebounds in a game by a rookie. Reeves had set the previous mark with 18 rebounds in 1996.
Edey’s 21 rebounds also represent the most by any rookie in a game this season.
The former Purdue standout’s performance came at a crucial moment for the Grizzlies, who needed the win to remain competitive in the NBA Play-In race with the LA Clippers. The Warriors, Timberwolves, Clippers, and Grizzlies all have 46 wins, competing for the final two playoff spots.
A loss would have put Memphis a full game behind the other teams, but with this win, the Grizzlies are now just one game behind the Nuggets, who hold the No. 4 seed in the West. Edey’s performance is the latest highlight in what has been a solid rookie season for the former Boilermakers’ star.
Edey is currently averaging 9.2 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 57.5% from the field and 36% from three-point range in his rookie year. Selected as the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Edey has played in 63 games and made 52 starts for Memphis this season.
Edey was one of the top college basketball players, winning the Wooden Award and being named AP Player of the Year twice during his four years at Purdue. He led the Boilermakers to the 2024 NCAA title game, but they were defeated by Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, and Connecticut.
Coming out of Purdue, there were doubts about whether Edey’s skill set would translate to the NBA, with concerns about his 7-foot-4, nearly 300-pound frame possibly limiting his ability to defend against quicker players. Additionally, his lack of perimeter shooting experience raised questions among some talent evaluators.
However, as a rookie, Edey has shown enough promise to earn 21 minutes per game on a team that is likely heading into the playoffs in a few weeks.
