Purdue coach explains why Zach Edey will 'hold that paint down' in Memphis
With one month left until the start of the 2024-25 NBA campaign, Purdue assistant coach Brandon Brantley has warned the league that Zach Edey will man the paint for the Grizzlies. After being selected as the 9th overall pick in this past draft, many people are still wondering if the 7-foot-4 athlete will make it in the big leagues.
However, the truth is that the big man had already made a name for himself in college basketball. Recently, Brantley was watching television and saw a sports TV program plucking the center from its top five players heading into the upcoming season, and he told his former student via text message.
This was pure strategy from Brandon. “I knew you were upset,” he admitted Commercial Appeal. “When he's angry, he just hits you with 'OK,' but that's OK with a big fire behind you.”
Ja Morant on Zach Edey:
“Definitely Rookie of the Year. I also think it's easy.”
Edey made it to Ja's off-season “training camp” and Ja is thrilled with what he saw 🔥
Something special is happening in Memphis👀🐻
— EdeyMuse (@EdeyMuse) September 21, 2024
“They're not going to let Zach shut down and cook the whole game,” Brantley continued. “It doesn't work like that. It's five to five. Doing this routine every day will be like me and you brushing your teeth every day. He takes 12 hook shots and pretends it's nothing.”
Edey is more than just a seven-footer who can protect the rim, as he has also produced a signature shot that has caught the eye of many, including his teammates in Memphis. After working out for a week with Ja Morant, that All-Star even announced him as the next Rookie of the Year.
“Obviously he's 7-4, but his touch, he was shooting the ball very well,” said the Grizzlies star, now that he has recovered from his injury and is excited to hit the floor next month. “Rookie of the year is the most perfect I can say.”
On the other hand, Brantley can't wait for the NBA to see his potential. “Memphis will have a boyfriend in that paint who will hold down that paint,” he said. “Usually, guys like that will try to regain their place. He is repeatedly out of his place. It means something to him.”
The Grizzles general manager called him a 'special fit' for his team and is sure there are many misconceptions about Edey's game.
Let's remember something, a few months ago Zach became the first player in more than forty years to win The Associated Press' men's college basketball player of the year award in consecutive seasons. His new general manager hopes this is their best result yet.
“Zach Edey is a special player [for the franchise],” Grizzlies' Zach Kleiman said during the NBA draft in June. “In getting to know him, we are talking about someone who is competing with him through the roof, the maintenance thing goes through the roof. No ego, I only want to win. “
Now we can wait to see how his surprisingly large size will translate on the NBA courts, as he will be one of the tallest players in the league this coming season. Last year, Houston's Boban Marjanovic, Phoenix's Bol Bol and San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama were all listed at 7-foot-3 or taller.
Zach enjoyed steady growth throughout his college years, averaging 22.3 points and 12.9 rebounds as a junior, then 25.2 points and 12.2 rebounds during his senior season that took the Boilermakers to reached the NCAA title game against Connecticut.
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