Last June, the Memphis Grizzlies were faced with a particularly challenging dilemma. Coming off one of the most injury-riddled seasons in NBA history, the front office had to decide what to do with its first-round pick. Owning the ninth overall selection in the 2024 lottery, it seemed obvious that Memphis needed some insurance in the frontcourt.
Several options came to the forefront of the discussion when it came to potential selections the Grizzlies could make. But the player they ended up going with in Zach Edey was not the most universally acclaimed among the community. There were plenty of questions about how the former Purdue star would adapt at the NBA level, and how he would fit on a roster looking to get back to the playoffs.
When Memphis selected Edey, there was a considerable pressure placed on the rookie. Not only due to the split opinions on him from the fanbase, but also from the need for him to produce for a team that has already been a playoff contender in the Ja Morant era. Well, for much of the regular season, Edey squashed a lot of those doubts in starting 55 games and averaging 9.2 points and 8.3 rebounds on 58% shooting. But even then, the doubters wanted to see him be consistently reliable in the postseason as well.
Edey was shining in both the Grizzlies' play-in games
And if you watched the Grizzlies' two play-in games this past week, you saw him do exactly that. Against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, Edey put up 14 points and 17 rebounds, making a positive impact despite some admitted offensive clunkiness at times. Then on Friday as Memphis took down the Dallas Mavericks and advanced to the playoffs, number 14 made seven of his nine shot attempts en route to another double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, along with a pair of blocks as well.
Those who are still grasping at straws when it comes to doubting Edey have been questioning his poise and ability to recognize his own size, noting some of his awkward misses against the Warriors. I mean, what are we even doing with that kind of talk at this point? This guy has clearly been an impact player all year as a rookie, and the big stage has done little to affect his usefulness. Trying to knock his small mistakes at this point is just fighting a losing battle.
Edey is clearly only going to get better, and the fact that he has already been this good as a rookie in the postseason is all the proof Grizzlies fans need to reassure themselves that their organization made the right selection last summer. The way Edey plays allows Memphis to maximize Jaren Jackson Jr.'s skills, and it's a combination that clearly works even when the stakes are high. This team is in a more than solid position with Edey as the man in the middle.