Grizzlies GM Explains Advantages Zach Edey Brings to Memphis
Memphis Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman was overwhelmed with the opportunity to select Purdue's Zach Edey in the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday night. With the 7-foot-4 center and two-time National Player of the Year still on the board at No. 9, Kleiman said the organization was "thrilled."
Edey was selected by the Grizzlies with the ninth overall pick on Wednesday night. After Memphis made the pick, Kleiman spoke with reporters about the decision to take the big man from Purdue.
"Zach Edey is a particularly special fit [for the franchise]," Kleiman said. "In getting to know him, we are talking about someone whose competitiveness is through the roof, care factor is through the roof. No ego, just wants to win."
Edey is coming off a 2023-24 campaign in which he averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 2.0 assists per game. He led the Boilermakers to a 34-5 record, a Big Ten regular season championship and a trip to the Final Four.
Kleiman said that one of the biggest appeals of drafting Edey is his ability to create mismatches on both sides of the court. He believes it adds a new wrinkle to the roster, something teams are going to have to gameplan for more effectively.
"What really appealed to us about Zach — you spend a lot of time thinking about how do we match up against this team? How do we match up against that team? Zach is incredibly unique in that, you gotta deal with him," Kleiman said. "We now have from a size standpoint, from a physicality standpoint, that's something other teams are gonna have to grapple with.
"We wanna have looks that we can throw out there that give us the advantage. Let them figure out how to deal with us. And we have different looks we can throw out over the course of a game, over the course of a series. That optionality is something the really intrigued us and could make an actual difference."
Memphis finished last season with a 27-55 record. The Grizzlies still have two picks remaining in the NBA Draft, No. 39 and No. 57.
Related stories on Purdue basketball
EDEY'S TEAMMATES CELEBRATE: Instead of attending the NBA Draft, Zach Edey chose to spend the evening with his friends, family, teammates and coaches at Purdue. When his name was called by the Memphis Grizzlies, everyone surrounding the 7-foot-4 center celebrated. CLICK HERE
EDEY SELECTED BY MEMPHIS: Purdue center Zach Edey was selected with the No. 9 pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2024 NBA Draft. The 7-foot-4 center set new program records at Purdue in points and rebounds and was a two-time National Player of the Year. CLICK HERE
ANONYMOUS PLAYER COMPARES EDEY TO SHAQ: An anonymous player who worked out with Zach Edey compared the 7-foot-4 center to "trying to guard Shaquille O'Neal." That's an incredibly high compliment to the two-time National Player of the Year from Purdue. CLICK HERE
