Zach Edey, a seven-foot-four 23-year-old, was the ninth pick of the 2024 NBA draft after a stellar career at Purdue. He’s on a long, hard path now as he recovers from a serious ankle injury and awaits an October court date for a charge of reckless driving. Edey’s rookie campaign was phenomenal, but odds are he’ll miss the beginning of the 2025-26 NBA season. Given this development, optimism for his recovery and return to previous performance must be greatly tempered.
Edey’s recent injury only compounds upon a disastrous history involving his left ankle. He had originally sprained the same ankle back during his rookie campaign in November, which caused him to miss 12 games last season. This newest injury, which happened on the day of an offseason workout earlier this month, requires surgery to restabilize the joint. Edey has had a pretty extensive injury history, which makes durability a question mark. Fans, however, doubt he can keep at this pace with the increased competition in the league.
Throughout his rookie season, Edey proved how special and unique a talent he was. His 58% field goal percentage led all rookies, while he averaged 8.3 rebounds per game. Plus, he finished fourth in blocks and had the second-best plus minus in the entire league—plus-164. These numbers highlight his ability to be an impact player for his collegiate squad. The recent injury challenges might hold back his development.
Even aside from his legal problems, Edey’s situation isn’t great. An first court appearance for the charge of reckless driving is scheduled for Monday. This compounds the emotional turmoil of what’s already a challenging period for the aspiring young athlete. As he continues to address the challenges head on, it’s yet to be determined how much they may affect his overall career path.
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