Grizzlies rookie Zach Edey relishing showing doubters what he can do in NBA

SALT LAKE CITY — The eye contact Zach Edey made was stern and meaningful. His tone of voice was determined, yet respectful.

For the better part of three years, talk of how his game would translate to the NBA level dominated his college development. And for the better part of the last three years, that talk has been predominantly negative. The concerns were real, particularly when you look at how Purdue used the 7-foot-4 Edey. Scouts wondered how well he would be able to change ends. Others wondered if Edey would be able to play within NBA spacing. Most wondered if Edey could translate from playing primarily with his back to the basket into playing primarily out of the pick-and-roll.

When asked on Monday night if his game and skill set were being overthought, Edey’s eyes turned steely, giving a glimpse of how frustrating the process has been and will continue to be for him as he navigates through his first summer league and prepares for his rookie season. More than a few were surprised that the Memphis Grizzlies selected him with the ninth pick of last month’s NBA Draft. But, quietly, Edey put together one of the best cumulative pre-draft workout performances of any prospect. And by the time draft night rolled around, Edey had multiple fans among teams selecting in the top 10.

“Everybody seemed to focus on what they thought I can’t do,” Edey said. “They focused on that instead of talking about what I could do. It was fun to get out there and be able to show what I could do.”

Statistically, Edey’s NBA Summer League debut was terrific. He scored 14 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. He blocked four shots. His tip-in at the buzzer allowed Memphis to force overtime on Monday night against the Utah Jazz, a game the Grizzlies eventually lost 97-95. He made several big plays on both ends of the floor that kept Memphis alive.

ZACH EDEY TIP IN FOR OVERTIME ‼️🚨

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But it was what didn’t show up in the box score that really stood out. He ran the floor extremely well, and did so against Utah center Walker Kessler, who is one of the faster and more athletic centers in the league. His rim protection was elite, deterring Jazz drivers at the rim on several occasions. He was simply a force on both ends. He was able to do that without commanding the basketball on the block, and he was able to do it while playing a completely different style than he did in college.

And that was the question. Edey isn’t going to dominate in the NBA with his back to the basket. That’s simply not how the NBA game is played in this era. It’s played with spacing. It’s played above the 3-point arc. And the big men who are successful at the NBA level usually do one of the following things well: They are either 3-point shooters, or guys who are massive screeners and lob threats, or guys who are apex defenders at the rim.

Edey impressed during the college season because he lost a bunch of weight and gained mobility he didn’t show in his underclassmen years at Purdue. At the NBA Draft Combine and in pre-draft workouts, he reportedly shot the ball well in several spots. And with the added mobility, and even with the lower weight, he’s still bigger than anyone on the court the majority of the time.

“Zach took a lot of the feedback from scouts and answered a lot of questions,” Jazz general manager Justin Zanik told reporters a few weeks ago. “He slimmed down, and he’s figured out how to impact the game in multiple ways.”

If Monday night is to be believed as sustainable in the long term, here is what Edey can do. He’s already an elite screener, which is extremely important for his skill set. He commanded a ton of gravity from the Jazz defense every time he rolled to the basket, which opened the corners for open 3-point looks. He was very difficult to keep off the glass, particularly on the offensive end as the Jazz tried to end defensive possessions with stops. And, yes, on occasion, he was still able to post and score over his left shoulder, the skill that made him a two-time Player of the Year at the collegiate level.

When you look at his performance on Monday night, you can close your eyes and envision exactly what Memphis saw when it drafted Edey. Think about how dynamic the Grizzlies are in the backcourt and think about Ja Morant and Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart coming downhill because Edey screened for them. Then think about Jaren Jackson Jr., who is one of the best defensive power forwards in the league, but who is not a center in any way, shape or form. And now, if Edey proves to be rotational, Jackson no longer has to moonlight at the center spot, and no longer has to worry about rebounding at a high rate when rebounding isn’t exactly his best skill.

The fit appears to be a really good one between Edey and the Grizzlies. Memphis was at its best as a threat within the Western Conference when it had the prime version of Steven Adams at the center spot setting screens, cleaning up misses and providing a deterrent at the rim. When the Grizzlies zeroed in on and drafted Edey, no doubt that re-creation was a motivating thought.

Of course, there is a long way to go for Edey. Memphis will play in the Las Vegas Summer League. There are a lot of days and practice reps to be had. There will be a training camp and there will be a preseason. There will come a time when Edey will have to guard a center or two who plays away from the basket, unlike Kessler who plays near the hoop. There will come a time when teams will attempt to hunt him and isolate him in space. And how he responds to those challenges will ultimately determine his NBA ceiling. But the vision is clear. And for a night in Salt Lake City, Edey showed an ability to adapt from the phone booth that is college basketball to the wide-open range of the NBA. For one night, he more than justified a top-10 selection.

“He’s a pretty good basketball player,” Memphis summer league coach Jason March said. “Let’s not forget that. He’s 7-foot forever, and he knows what he’s doing. Everyone is asking questions as if he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”

(Top photo: Rick Bowmer / Associated Press)