Canadian NBA rookie Zach Edey is living up to his premium billing after just nine games in his NBA career, and the Memphis Grizzlies center had 25 points and 12 boards on Monday night.
His team fell behind the Brooklyn Nets by a score of 106-104, but both marks are career highs for the 7-foot-4 rookie.
Selected 9th overall in the 2024 NBA Entry Draft, Edey is currently a favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
Fanduel has Edey’s odds of +380 just ahead of Washington Wizards rookie Carlton Carrington (+500), who is selected at No. 14.Day Take your pick from last June’s draft.
The top two picks in last June’s draft, Alexandre Sarr, selected second overall by the Hawks, and Zaccharie Risacher, selected first overall by the Washington Wizards, are the only players with a current odds of less than 10-1.
Monday night’s performance was nothing like the season opener. He fouled out in the Grizzlies’ opener against the Utah Jazz after playing just 14 minutes.
The quick exit set a new standard for the Toronto native as he became the first player to foul out so quickly since the NBA-ABA merger, according to Opta Stats.
Edey, who was drafted by the Grizzlies out of Purdue, joins Memphis after being named Naismith College Player of the Year for the second straight year.
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He was the first player to do so since legendary Houston center Ralph Sampson did so in 1982 and 1983. Sampson won NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1984.
Before playing college basketball at Indiana, Edey spent two years at IMG Academy in Florida.
He settled in Florida on the recommendation of AAU coach Vidal Massiah, who coached him for three years when he was a member of the Northern Kings.
Massiah and the Northern Kings have helped develop more than 100 players to play college basketball in the United States.
Massiah, who also played in the Division 1 NCAA at Bonaventure, said the school’s educational plan helped set him up for success.
“I kind of understood where he was and maybe what was good for him,” he explained. “So we helped come up with a plan to get him to where he is now.”
Based on Pickering, Massiah states that all the northern kings are now excited about Edey’s achievements.
“Our entire program is very proud of him, and every kid in the program coming after him, as well as our family, is very inspired,” he said.
Edey’s big play Monday night caught the attention of many who follow the NBA closely.
Vidal believes this is just the beginning for his former student.
“I think he will continue to surprise people and turn heads,” he said.
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