The 2024-25 NBA season didn't go as planned for a Memphis Grizzlies team that had championship aspirations. At worst, the team expected to finish with a top-six seed in the Western Conference and be more competitive in the first round of the playoffs before a late-season slide ended hopes of that becoming a reality.
With a season-ending injury to backup big man Brandon Clarke and a coaching change happening with nine games remaining, rookie big man Zach Edey was relied on more than expected down the stretch of this season. After showing inconsistencies throughout his rookie season, Edey showed why the team drafted him with the ninth overall pick last year and displayed a bright future.
Zach Edey had the most by a rookie in a playoff game since Serge Ibaka in 2010
With their season on the line in Game 4 of the Grizzlies' first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Zach Edey showed why he won't get played off the court much on defense as he gets more comfortable as his career progresses. After being knocked for how teams will attack him in the pick-and-roll with drop coverage defense, Edey had a block party in his last game of his rookie season with seven blocks.
The most blocks he had all season prior to Game 4 of the Thunder series were four blocks on three separate occasions. Ultimately, he ended the regular season second on the team in blocks per game with 1.3, and led the team in the postseason with an average of 2.5 blocks.
Edey played his role about as good as you can expect from a rookie who was thrust into an even bigger role as the games became more important down the stretch of the season. In limited shot attempts (3.8 field goals per game) in the playoffs, Edey averaged 6.3 points on 67% shooting to go along with 8.3 rebounds and the aforementioned 2.5 blocks.
Furthermore, being included in a class with former NBA big man and NBA champion Serge Ibaka is a positive sign for a player looking to have a similar impact. Interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo brought the best out of Zach Edey after Taylor Jenkins failed to properly utilize the rookie for his strengths.
The Grizzlies' season fell off the rails, but they also had some positive signs from some of their young guys in pivotal moments that will prepare them for future postseason battles. Zach Edey is just getting started and touching the surface of the force he can ultimately become for the Memphis Grizzlies.