Zach Edey was arguably the most polarizing Memphis Grizzlies player outside of their big three during their loss to the Golden State Warriors in the Play-in Tournament. Playing in his first high-stakes game as a pro wasn't an easy feat against the experienced Warriors, but Edey showed he could play.
The biggest knock on Edey going into the 2024 NBA draft was that his defensive liability would make him less impactful in the postseason. However, while his first taste of postseason play was a mixed bag, he displayed the toughness to fight through and help give the Grizzlies a chance to win at the end of the game.
Edey dominated on the boards
Jaren Jackson Jr. is the Grizzlies' second-best player, but his biggest weakness is rebounding. After a season without a true center playing next to him, Memphis felt it was best to select Zach Edey with the 9th overall pick of the draft last year.
After an inconsistent rookie season adjusting to the NBA game and a new role from his dominant paint-scoring days in college at Purdue, Edey became the dominant force the team needed on boards as the season winded down.
In the Grizzlies' six regular season games during the month of April, Zach Edey led the NBA in rebounding (15.7) and defensive rebounding (11.7) average. His 94 total rebounds over that span was only shorter than Shaquille O'Neal for most rebounds in a six-game span for a rookie center.
He continued that dominance with 14 points and 17 rebounds against the Warriors in the Play-In Tournament. Golden State played small, but coach Tuomas Isalo opted to play Edey for 33 minutes in the game, which the team was a plus-six in his time on the court.
Edey had his blunders, as is expected from a rookie center, shooting 4-11 from the field and committing four turnovers due to a lack of awareness when catching post-entry passes. He more than made up for those deficiencies with his rebounding clinic and 6-8 shooting from the free throw line.
Zach Edey not only proved he belonged on the court in high-leverage moments, but the potential for him to reach another level is apparent. After securing double-digit rebounds in 13 of his first 58 career games, Edey met that mark in seven of his last nine games, with him securing nine rebounds in one of the games he didn't meet the mark.
The Grizzlies should be satisfied with what they got from their rookie big man in his first postseason action of his career. He will carve out a lengthy NBA career if he can continue the level of dominance on the boards he has displayed recently.