Ever since the Memphis Grizzlies opted to select Zach Edey ninth overall during the 2024 NBA Draft, many fans and media pundits have vocally expressed their opinions on the decision and, more often than not, their thoughts have been far from flattering.
From expressed concerns of limited star potential at the next level to bold claims that he's already worthy of being considered "one of the worst picks I've seen in Draft history," to say the 22-year-old's addition to Taylor Jenkins' ball club has been met with polarizing reactions would be quite an understatement.
However, regardless of what outsiders may be saying, Edey doesn't seem to be phased in the slightest, as he clapped back at the doubters during his introductory press conference with the Grizzlies on Friday afternoon.
Zach Edey claps back at doubters during Grizzlies press conference
"Just being an underdog, it provides so much motivation. People keep counting you out, people keep doubting you, people who keep trying to tell you who you are, [as if these] people know me. It just adds fuel to the fire always. I don't pay attention to anyone I just let it fuel me, I let it go, and then you see it come out on the basketball court."Zach Edey
Edey would continue on with his press conference by expressing his gratitude for the Grizzlies organization for "believing in me," and even revealed that they had their sights set on him dating back to his second season at Purdue.
"They've been on me since I was a sophomore. They were always a team that was really interested in me and had a lot of belief in me. They were really the only team that believed in me and would have given me a deal my sophomore year. That's always resonated with me. That's always stuck with me."Zach Edey
Zach Edey went OFF for @BoilerBall as they picked up a huge W against Gonzaga 💪 pic.twitter.com/ifjLwLLIIZ
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) November 26, 2022
Edey comes into the NBA with quite an extensive resume attached to him, as he's a two-time AP Player of the Year winner who, in 2023-24, posted sensational averages of 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 62.3 percent from the floor and became the all-time leading scorer in Purdue basketball history (2,516 career points).
While the behemoth big may not have the projected upside of someone like, say, an Alex Sarr or Donovan Clingan does at the same position, measuring in at 7-foot-4, 300 pounds, he could still prove to be an ideal fit on this Grizzlies team when it comes to his rebounding expertise, rim-protecting skills, and hard screen setting abilities, all of which are attributes they've coveted down at the five since Steven Adams' departure.
The haters may see Memphis' decision to snatch up Edey as a bad move and a bit of a reach, but as suggested during his introductory presser, he's not worried about what other people think -- he's just focused on proving the doubters wrong and doing right by the team that believed in him.
Grizzlies fans should absolutely love this type of mindset by their new franchise big.