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Published Jul 8, 2024
Zach Edey impresses, tips in for overtime in NBA debut
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Casey Bartley  •  BoilerUpload
Basketball Columnist
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@CBartleyRivals

14 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks, and a tip-in later, and Zach Edey's NBA debut is in the books.

If the first summer league game is any indication, Edey isn't just going to make it in the NBA, he's gonna make waves.

Through a game, Edey blocked shots, set monster screens, and sent a game to overtime with a tip-in with .8 left to play.

For a lot of Grizzlies fans and NBA fans, it was a first look at the 7-4 2X National Player of the Year from Purdue. For some, it was a replay of what college fans saw Edey do for the last four years.

Memphis did lose to Utah State in overtime, 97-95, but there was plenty to feel hopeful about for the future for the Grizzlies with their 9th pick out playing one of the better younger big men in the league, Walker Kessler.

Let's take a look at a fun first night of NBA Summer League.

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After missing a put back dunk attempt to go up one with less than ten seconds to play, Zach Edey got a chance for redemption with the Grizzlies down two with 0.8 to play.

After making the first free throw, Grizzlies missed the second attempt on purpose to try and play for the tip-in. Despite two seven footers trying to block him out, Edey was able to get a hand up and deflect the miss just right off the glass and in to tie the game and send it to overtime.

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Edey was dominant on the glass, and ended up with 14 points, but those points didn't come quite as easy as they did in college.

It wasn't that Edey was being stopped inside, at least not be defenders. The few times Edey got the ball, he made the most of it, inlcuding this poster dunk.

But the Grizzlies guards did not seem overly aware of Edey's prowess inside. Instead of feeding the big man, Edey was left to play as the primary ball screener on pick and rolls, a weapon on the glass, and a transition target for a couple dunks.

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Edey's screening is worth noting though. Edey will be playing with Ja Morant in a few months and Morant is probably licking his lips. Edey's ability to create space for ball handlers was on display throughout the game. Enough so that highlight reels of those screens were compiled and shared on the Twitter.

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Here's a closer look at Edey throwing down. Even in the NBA, there just aren't men as big as Edey.

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Now this looks like Edey from college. Edey gets a screen and seals off Kessler inside and for one of the few times a pass found Edey inside. Edey hits Kessler with his body, spins, and finishes with a left handed hook at the rim.

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Then there was Edey hustling, getting down the floor and being rewarded with an open runway.

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Edey comes into the NBA with a lot of questions about his defense as well. Edey showed himself well on the defensive end. He had four blocks, defended well in space, and was a real deterrant around the rim. Here, a highlight of an early block.

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Oh, and it didn't take long for Zach Edey to show himself as a good teammate. Edey was involved in an after play skerfuffle that led to him getting his first technical foul in the NBA with former Ohio State guard Brice Sensabaugh.

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There was a slight scare when Edey tweaked his ankle to start the second half, but after going halfway to the locker room, he turned around and re-entered the game without missing more than a couple minutes. From there, he showed off his incredible endurance and stamina for a big man. He played most the second half, almost the entire fourth quarter, and all of overtime.

He racked up his first double-double in the NBA, something he did a lot at Purdue in college.

It's just one NBA Summer League game, but so far, it looks like Edey belongs.

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