Unfortunately, the Grizzlies lost Zach Edey for at least another month of the regular season due to a stress reaction in his left ankle. However, the 11 games he played this season after returning from offseason ankle surgery had the Grizzlies looking like a rising power in the Western Conference.
The team immediately felt his absence, even with Ja Morant returning to the lineup, with a loss at home to the Utah Jazz. Entering that game, the Grizzlies had won seven of their last nine games with Edey in the lineup, and held their two previous opponents to under 100 points before the Jazz scored 130.
Despite a college career that saw him rarely injured, Edey has dealt with various ankle and head injuries in his young career. His latest setback feels more precautionary as he and the Grizzlies try to ensure he will be available for the long term. Despite his setbacks with his ankle, the Grizzlies feel vindicated for drafting the player many felt they reached for when drafting him 9th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Zach Edey is the Grizzlies' most important player
Edey's rookie year was up and down as he battled ankle injuries and an inconsistent role and playing time under Taylor Jenkins. However, Edey seemed to really take off after Jenkins was replaced with Tuomas Iisalo late last season, as he led the NBA in rebounding during the final month of the regular season.
Despite missing the first 13 games of this season, Edey came back better out of the gate as he immediately reversed the Grizzlies' fortunes on defense and in the rebounding department. Before his latest setback, he led the Grizzlies to the top of the league in several defensive categories and made them a dominant force on the glass again.
The Grizzlies had a 7-4 record in the 11 games Edey played, and really 7-3 considering he only played six minutes in a loss to the Denver Nuggets. Speaking of their game against the Nuggets on November 24th -- that was the last time the Grizzlies lost a rebounding battle until Edey missed their latest loss against the Utah Jazz.
That alone shows the value of Zach Edey's presence for a team trying to erase an early-season hole with an 11-14 record. The Grizzlies did their homework in the draft last year and came away with a player who looks to be a building block for their present and future. Hopefully, he can clear his early injury hurdles so he and the team can reap the benefits he brings on a nightly basis more consistently.