On Wednesday, the Memphis Grizzlies announced their rookie big man Zach Edey had ankle surgery this week. The procedure was primarily aimed at repairing and restabilizing Edey’s ankle. He actually re-sprained it clean offshore training last week, compounding his previous injuries. Worries abound that after this most recent setback, he could be anywhere from a late-2024 return to missing the start of the 2025-26 season.
Edey, a two-time national player of the year at Purdue, made a significant impact during his debut season in the NBA. He appeared in 66 total games with 55 starts while showing flashes of a highly productive overall player with potential as a truly impactful asset to the Grizzlies. All signs pointed toward a breakout on his rookie campaign, as he averaged 9.2 points and led all rookies in an impressive 8.3 rebounds per game. His productivity landed him first-team All-Rookie honors and established himself among the league’s most promising young talent.
Edey faced doubles troubles through the early part of last season. Earlier this season, he missed 12 games due to a sprained left ankle. Despite this setback, he demonstrated resilience and determination throughout the remainder of the season, contributing to the Grizzlies’ efforts on the court. With his recent injury, people have begun to question whether or not he’ll be ready for the 2021 season.
The Grizzlies organization has been consistently positive about Edey’s recovery timeline. They’re hopeful this surgery will finally fix his persistent ankle issues. With this procedure, he works to regaining full strength. Despite that good news, the timeline for his return is still very much up in the air. If Edey is unable to participate in training camp or early-season games, it could impact the team as they prepare for the upcoming season.
If the Grizzlies do land Edey with this pick, they’ll have to play it smart and stay in constant contact with Edey’s rehabilitation process. His ability to control the pace of play and create shots for his teammates is extremely important to the team’s success. He’s really good at pitching in offensively and defensively. Edey coming along, fans will be watching for updates. His story serves as an example to the unabating and often unbelievable physical trauma that athletes in every sport go through.
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