After participating in the rise of the Grizzlies, Steven Adams has taken the road to Houston, where he now plays a luxury back-up role behind Alperen Sengun. In Memphis, he’s the promising rookie Zach Edey who took over, supervised by Brandon Clarke et Jaren Jackson Jr.
Memphis has bet big on this extraordinary physique (2m24, 136 kilos) who has already shown great things in the first part of the season, despite his lack of experience in NBA Basketball and his profile which has become a little atypical in the league. of today. And even though the rookie hasn’t excelled in the two games between Memphis and Houston in recent days, Steven Adams did not fail to highlight the qualities of his “successor”.
“He’s quite strong. He has great potential, which clearly has no limits,” he summarized. “He’s still young, he needs to learn how to play NBA basketball.”
If Zach Edey did not particularly shine on the statistical level, finishing with 4 then 2 points for 10 rebounds in total over the two games, it was when he came out for his sixth foul that Houston began its back to business to finally win on the wire (120-118). Managing faults, his body and reading the game, these are the first three areas of progression for him, as was the case for Steven Adams.
Like Zach Edey, the Kiwi had a tendency to make too many mistakes: 6.1 in 36 minutes in his rookie season. That’s a bit more than Zach Edey in the first part of this season.
A place and a role to find
“I think that’s what could cause him problems. It’s just that the game is going faster, but he’ll get used to it eventually.” he added before conceding that he was much less worried about the rookie’s ability to grab rebounds. “He’s so damn big!” For that, it will be easy for him, it will come naturally.”
Like Steven Adams at the Thunder, Zach Edey also had the challenge of arriving as a rookie in a formation with an already well-established hierarchy. Here again, it’s a challenge trying to find your place when you’re next to players like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Zach Edey must therefore learn to play by perhaps seeing less of the ball and also by sacrificing himself for his leaders. On this point, we remember the devastating screens of the Kiwi ogre which Ja Morant was able to take advantage of at will.
“It’s just about discovering your own chemistry.” Whoever your scorers are, I try to make their lives as easy as possible. This is what he must do too. You have to start somewhere. Because he’s in a team that’s so strong, the roles are already established, so it’s up to him to fill one.”
The two interiors will meet again at the end of the month for the last confrontation of the regular season between Memphis and Houston. For the moment, the Rockets are serving as the Grizzlies’ bete noire with three wins in three games. To see if Steven Adams’ advice will change the trend…
| Zach Edey | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | To | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2024-25 | MEM | 26 | 21 | 58.2 | 39.3 | 63.0 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 7.5 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 9.9 |
| Total | 26 | 21 | 58.2 | 39.3 | 63.0 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 7.5 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 9.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
