The Memphis Grizzlies' rookie starters swapped positions in the first NBA.com Kia Rookie Ladder to begin the 2025 new year. The top five rookies remained in the top five but all players rotated to a different position in the top of this week's rookie ladder.
Zach Edey returns to the top 3
The Grizzlies had a four-game week between the Rookie Ladder updates in which Zach Edey played two of the four games. He put on a dominating performance against the Toronto Raptors with his best performance of the season in a win for the Grizzlies, helping the team break a franchise record in the process.
He produced a double-double with 21 points and 15 rebounds against the lowly Raptors before a matchup with this week's number-one rookie on the ladder. Zach Edey faced off against the New Pelicans center, Yves Missi, for their first matchup of the season as Edey missed the Grizzlies and Pelicans' first matchup back in November.
Yves Missi left the game early after a hard fall in the first half but returned to the game in the second half as both players played 27 minutes. Overall Zach Edey outplayed Yves Missi in their first matchup of the season as he produced 14 points, nine rebounds, and three stocks (two blocks and one steal) on 5-6 shooting.
YVES MISSI MONSTER DUNK ON ZACH EDEY pic.twitter.com/io5ddNxmdK
— Pelicans Colombia (@pelicanscol) December 28, 2024
Meanwhile, Missi produced six points, six rebounds, and three blocks but had a moment late in the game where he took it to Edey on a dunk attempt. Edey and the Grizzlies got the last laugh in their 132-124 victory, but Missi showed he is here to remain in the Rookie of the Year race.
Zach Edey suffered a hit to the head sometime in the game against the Pelicans that wasn't diagnosed until a day after, leading him to miss the Grizzlies' last two games due to a concussion. Edey is expected back soon and looks to continue soaring to the top of the rookie ladder as he is the betting favorite to win Rookie of the Year again at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Jaylen Wells falls to number 5
The new rookie ladder wasn't kind to the guard and wing positions as there was a big man takeover at the top with Yves Missi, Washington Wizards' forward Alexandre Sarr, and Zach Edey surpassed San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle and Jaylen Wells.
Wells has hit a shooting slump in his last three games shooting 8-34 (23.5%) from the field and 3-21 (14.3%) from three. This stretch came after scoring 17 points on 50% shooting against the Toronto Raptors last week.
Wells has shot the basketball well during his rookie campaign as evidenced by his current percentage only dropping to 44% from the field and 36.7% from three. Despite his struggles, he scored double-digits in two of their last three games, leading to two Grizzlies wins in both games. The Grizzlies are 18-3 when he scores at least 10 points this season.