Last Updated on July 21, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Zach Edey

Zach Edey arrived in the NBA after one of the most dominant collegiate careers in recent memory, overwhelming opponents with his towering size, soft touch, and commanding presence in the paint. While his transition to the professional game has drawn plenty of attention, his rebounding, interior scoring, and rim protection give him the foundation to become a highly effective center.

Here’s a detailed profile of Zach Edey:

  • Full Name: Zachary Cheyne Edey
  • Nationality: Canadian
  • Date of Birth: May 14, 2002
  • Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Height: 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 meters)
  • Weight: 290 pounds (131.5 kilograms)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 11 inches (241cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 21 (US)
  • Shoe Brand: Nike GT Hustle 2
  • Jersey Number:
    • #15 — Purdue Boilermakers
    • #15 — Memphis Grizzlies
  • Position: Center
  • High School: IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida, USA
  • College: Purdue University (2020–2023)
  • NBA Draft: Selected 30th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2023 NBA Draft
  • Player Archetype: Traditional low-post dominant center
  • Primary Offensive Role: Interior scoring hub (post-ups, rim finishes)
  • Defensive Role: Drop-coverage rim protector
  • Play Style: Methodical back-to-the-basket scorer with size-driven efficiency
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right
  • Athletic Profile: Below-the-rim, size-over-explosion big; elite standing reach and strength
  • Recruiting Status: 3-star recruit (late riser)
  • Draft Status Detail: Lottery pick after dominant college career (2× National Player of the Year)
  • Injury Status Category: Durable — no major injury history entering NBA
  • Career Stage: Early career (rookie contract)
  • Comparison Style: Size-dominant interior anchor
  • Comparable Players
    • Yao Ming — towering interior scorer with soft touch
    • Boban Marjanović — extreme size used for efficient low-post offense
    • Jonas Valančiūnas — physical paint scorer and rebounder
    • Brook Lopez (early career) — post-heavy offensive center
  • Teams Played For:
    • Memphis Grizzlies (2024–present)
  • Championship Rings: None as of now
  • Parents: Julia Edey (mother); father N/A
  • Children: None
  • Siblings: Younger brother named Doug Edey

Zach Edey’s player archetype is that of a traditional, size-dominant interior center, built around overwhelming physical presence and controlled half-court execution. Defensively, he operates primarily as a drop-coverage rim protector, using his length to deter shots rather than switching onto perimeter players, while offensively he functions as a low-post focal point who generates efficient scoring through deep seals and soft-touch finishes. His defining physical traits—rare height, massive wingspan, and strength—shape a deliberate play style that prioritizes positioning and efficiency over speed or vertical explosiveness. Overall, Edey’s game leans into classic center fundamentals, anchoring the paint on both ends while providing a reliable interior scoring base.

Scouting Report

Watching Zach Edey, the obvious conversation starts with his size, but that’s actually the least interesting part of his game. What separates him is how deliberately he uses it. He doesn’t rush into post catches, he seals defenders before the pass arrives, and once he establishes position the possession often feels over because moving him off the block requires multiple defenders. His touch around the basket is softer than people expect, allowing him to score over either shoulder without relying on explosive lift, and he’s become comfortable reading late doubles, kicking the ball back out instead of forcing difficult hooks through traffic. In pick-and-rolls he’s a massive screening target who creates real separation simply by occupying so much space, then rolls with patient timing rather than sprinting blindly into help. The trade-off is that offenses built around pace and constant switching can drag him into uncomfortable situations. Guards who attack with space force him to cover more ground than he’d like, and repeated empty-side actions can stretch his recovery range, even though he generally understands where he should be. To me, he’s more effective than critics often acknowledge in drop coverage because he stays vertical, protects the restricted area without chasing blocks he can’t reach, and finishes possessions by securing the rebound instead of extending them with unnecessary swipes. It’s easy to overlook how much his rebounding changes shot selection; perimeter defenders can pressure more aggressively knowing there’s a strong chance the possession ends if the shot goes up. His ideal fit is with creators who consistently collapse defenses in the pick-and-roll and shooters who punish help rotations, allowing his screening and interior gravity to become offensive weapons even on possessions where he never takes a shot. Stylistically, he shares elements of Brook Lopez as a disciplined paint anchor, while his ability to dominate deep post position evokes Yao Ming—not because they move alike, but because both make defenses alter their entire coverage the moment the entry pass becomes an option.

Notes:

  • Zach Edey’s height without shoes is 7 ft 3.75 in (2.23 m), and his height with shoes is 7 ft 4.5 in (2.25 m), based on official NBA Draft Combine measurements.
  • Zach Edey’s listed playing weight is 300 lb (136 kg); no verified fluctuations reported.
  • Stylistically, Zach Edey aligns with Yao Ming, Rik Smits, and Walker Kessler, each reflecting elements of size-driven interior play. His scoring profile and sheer physical presence most closely mirror Yao Ming as the closest stylistic parallel, while Smits represents a slower-paced, mid-post era variation and Kessler reflects a more modern defensive-centric role with less offensive responsibility.
  • During college, while playing for Purdue, Zach Edey wore the Nike GT Hustle 2 (often black and white).
  • In the lead-up to the 2024 NBA draft, Zach Edey’s name was mentioned a lot in the media as a late riser. It is unclear whether this was a smokescreen attempt by general managers. It is rumored that the Rockets may have started this rumor because they wanted Reed Sheppard to fall to them, and by suggesting Zach Edey may go third, it took the attention away from Sheppard.

Player Insights

Player Updates (February 1, 2025):
Zach Edey made an immediate impact to begin his NBA rookie season, recording double-doubles early and reaching the 20-point mark by Boxing Day. His emergence has helped stabilise a Memphis frontcourt that had lacked a consistent presence at center while Jaren Jackson Jr. operated primarily at power forward. With Edey now anchoring the middle, the Grizzlies project as a rising team with a more balanced interior rotation—drawing parallels to the frontcourt foundation Cleveland established with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The team’s trajectory, however, will depend on Ja Morant’s availability and Jackson Jr.’s ability to remain healthy.

Sources:
Basketball Reference — Zach Edey Stats
ESPN — Zach Edey Draft Profile
NCAA — Zach Edey Purdue Bio