Toronto’s Zach Edey finding footing in NBA with Memphis Grizzlies

TORONTO– Zach Edey’s 2nd NBA look at Scotiabank Arena was a bit less expensive.

The seven-foot-four Edey had 8 points and 9 rebounds as his Memphis Grizzlies topped the Toronto Raptors 118-102 on Monday. It was just Edey’s 2nd time dipping into the Raptors’ home arena after he missed out on the Grizzlies’ one video game in Toronto last season due to injury.

For Edey’s wallet, there was a high drop off in ticket demands from pals and household from his novice season of 2024-25 and Monday night.

“Two year earlier, I had about 2 areas,” laughed Edey post-game.

Even though his individual assistance area was decreased Monday, the novelty of playing versus his home town group in its arena hasn’t used off for Edey.

“It’s insane. I do not understand how else to put it,” stated Edey. “I didn’t get to play here in 2015 however I’ve been here two times now.

“It’s constantly a great deal of enjoyable to come home and hear the anthem and enter the environment once again.”

The 24-year-old Edey, who matured in midtown Toronto, is balancing 8.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and a help per video game. His 9 boards on Monday assisted Memphis out-rebound the Raptors 44-34.

“It does not constantly appear on package rating, however his effect is felt every night, whether it’s in the ownership video game, rebounding ball, or defensively safeguarding the rim, or simply engaging the other guys,” stated Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo. “We yap about the offending efficiencies of our guards, however if you take a look at the tape, it’s likewise since the challenger is really paranoid about Zach getting open appearances.

“His protector tends to, rather of safeguarding the rim, tends to gravitate back towards Zach, which opens 10 lanes for our guys.”

Edey balanced 18.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.3 helps over 4 NCAA season with the Purdue Boilermakers, however those numbers were manipulated lower as he began just two times in his freshman year and played half as lots of minutes per video game that season.

He two times won the Naismith Award as U.S. college basketball’s gamer of the year. He is just the 3rd male gamer to win back-to-back Naismiths, signing up with Hall of Famers Ralph Sampson and Bill Walton.

Edey stated that he’s still not playing to the level he thinks he’s capable of in the NBA.

“I’m going to keep working,” stated Edey. “I’m going to keep doing what I believe is the very best method to play basketball.”

This report by The Canadian Press was very first released Nov. 10, 2026.