Zach Edey has finally made it to the NBA after years of doubts about his potential.
Skipping Olympics for NBA Preparation:
Zach Edey won’t be playing for Canada in the Paris Olympics this month. Instead, he will focus on training with the Grizzlies and bonding with his new teammates. He shared this decision in a statement with Canada’s basketball federation.
“I have made the difficult decision of pulling myself out of the process to compete for a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Canada,” Zach said. “Since last summer, I have been training and competing nonstop to achieve my goals of winning a national championship at Purdue and making it to the NBA.”
Rowan Barrett and head coach Jordi Fernández on Zach Edey pulling out of Team Canada camp. 🇨🇦
— theScore (@theScore)
NBA Dreams Take Priority:
Zach emphasized how crucial it is for him to prepare well for his NBA journey. “I have a duty now to properly prepare for all that is coming my way with being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies,” he stated. “The work I put in this summer on myself and my game is critical for me to be the best version of myself.”
Even though he’s skipping the Olympics, Zach still dreams of playing for Team Canada someday. The Canadian basketball federation supports his choice, understanding that he’ll grow more as an athlete in the NBA.
“We look forward to welcoming him to a future training camp and wish him the best of luck preparing for next season,” wrote Canada’s general manager Rowan Barrett.
College Success Story:
During college, Zach’s performance improved steadily. As a junior, he averaged 22.3 points and 12.9 rebounds per game; as a senior, those numbers rose to 25.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, leading Purdue to face Connecticut in the NCAA title game.
Fans believe Zach’s dedication will make him shine in Memphis.
A Perfect Fit For The Grizzlies:
Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman praised their draft pick: “Zach Edey is a particularly special fit [for our team]. His competitiveness is through the roof; no ego, just wants to win.”
When asked if they were eyeing Donovan Clingan instead (who went 7th overall), Kleiman dismissed any rumors: “I haven’t seen that reported anywhere… This is how we wanted the draft to play out.”
He added: “We now have — from a size standpoint, from a physicality standpoint — something other teams are going to have trouble dealing with.”
