3 ways Grizzlies center Zach Edey can win 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year

Expectations are astronomically high for the likes of Memphis Grizzlies lottery-selected big man, Zach Edey heading into 2024-25.

Despite coming into the association widely panned as a prospect, with some going as far as to call the decision by GM Zach Kleiman to snatch him up ninth overall as being "one of the worst" in league history, following an impressive, albeit limited run in Summer League it appears his perception has taken a 180 turn.

With just over a month to go until the kick-off to training camp, Edey's stock has risen so high that he's now being penciled in as the favorite to win this year's Rookie of the Year award, according to a recent ESPN survey including coaches, executives, and scouts strewn across the league.

Though it's certainly far too early to properly predict how any of the upcoming award races will wind up shaking out come the campaign's end, should all go well it's hard to envision the 7-foot-4 behemoth not being in the running for the illustrious moniker, and there are a few factors, in particular, that just might help improve his odds of winning it all.

How Grizzlies center Zach Edey can win 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year

1. Pace all rookies in rebounds & blocks

Though he may be coming into the association fresh off two straight AP Player of the Year awards while boasting scoring averages of 23.8 points on 61.6 percent shooting since 2022-23, the Grizzlies did not draft Zach Edey to take on a major offensive role within coach Taylor Jenkins' rotation.

Considering they already have the likes of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and GG Jackson in tow, they're good on this front.

Instead, what Memphis needs is someone who can take over for the likes of former franchise five Steven Adams and, in turn, provide similar intangibles to what he did throughout his Grind City tenure, namely when it comes to the rebound and rim-protection aspect of the game.

Edey showed throughout his tenure with the Boilermakers that while he can dominate in the post when it comes to scoring, he's also an elite presence down low when it relates to pulling down boards and swatting shots, especially during his final two seasons where he registered 12.5 and 2.1, respectively, on a nightly basis.

On top of this, he also finished his Purdue career with an astonishing offensive rebound rate of 19.3 percent as well as a stellar defensive rating of 95.9.

Considering these will likely be his two main focuses on a team flush with scoring galore, bringing these specific high-end efforts to the big leagues shouldn't be all that hard for Edey to do, especially when it comes to someone of his sature.

With this in mind, leading all rookies in rebounds and blocks should be expected of him coming into year one.