Brandon Clarke on guarding Memphis Grizzlies rookie Zach Edey: ‘Like you’re guarding a giant’
Portrait of Jason MunzJason Munz
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Ja Morant has already logged his NBA Rookie of the Year vote for new Memphis Grizzlies teammate Zach Edey.
“Definitely rookie of the year,” Morant said earlier this month. “I think easily, too.”
Edey, though, is not ready to make such a bold proclamation.
I mean, I’d be lying saying it wasn’t something I wanted to do,” the former Purdue superstar and the Grizzlies’ first round draft pick said Monday during his media day appearance at FedExForum. “(But) I never really play for any awards or anything. I just play game to game and however the season goes is how it goes.
The 7-foot-4 Edey, selected at No. 9 overall, has quickly won over his new teammates and is off to a solid first impression. He spent a week in Dallas this summer working out with Morant at SMU.
Among those who already had an idea of what to expect is fellow Canadian Brandon Clarke.
“I’ve been watching Zach play forever — back in college and back on Team Canada,” he said.
But even Clarke couldn’t be fully prepared for what Edey brings to the table. On Monday, he was asked what it’s like having to guard the big man in the low post.
I mean, like you’re guarding a giant, he said. Like you’re guarding a big strong dude. I mean, I’ve guarded a lot of tall guys. But he is definitely one of the tallest guys I’ve guarded.
It’s not easy, for sure.
Few have had much of an opportunity to see Edey since he left Purdue, where he was a two-time national player of the year. He has worked his way through multiple injury issues in NBA Summer League – a pair of ankle injuries – that kept him from playing real minutes.
But coach Taylor Jenkins and Edey’s new teammates have been impressed with what they’ve seen behind the scenes.
“You could see the flashes of Zach’s presence on the interior, inside-outside,” Jenkins said of Edey’s playing time in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. “Gonna challenge him to continue to grow versatility on the outside. Being able to shoot the 3-ball, being able to defend on the perimeter, too.”. I really feel that this fellow is capable of it. He’s going to take time as he adjusts to the physicality, the speed, the game strategies, and tendencies of the league.
Edey — who said he has trimmed down to 290 pounds — said he’s looking forward to showing off his expanded game to the world.
“I think a lot of people got kind of caught up in me being 7-4, 300 pounds,” he said. “And just took that at face value. A lot of people didn’t really watch me play or move around and do certain things at Purdue.
“It is what it is, but there’s a lot of things I can do that people don’t know about.”
Be the first to comment