NBA Draft: Can Zach Edey actually become a solid NBA player?

At 7’4”, 285 pounds, Zach Edey is hard to miss. Thanks to his play in his senior season at Purdue University, Edey might also be tough to pass up during the 2024 NBA Draft. Opinions and evaluations of the gargantuan center are all over the map, and we’ll take a closer look at whether he can become a productive NBA player. All college statistics are sourced from Sports Reference.

About a year ago, it would have been difficult to imagine Edey being taken seriously as a legitimate NBA prospect. The Purdue Boilermakers suffered a historic, embarrassing loss to a 16-seed in the 2023 NCAA tournament, which left his reputation damaged.

Sports Illustrated wrote about the criticism Edey faced after the stunning loss, as the new college basketball season began in November 2023. Edey said at that time, “I feel like my story has been one of success…but all they want to do is tear me down. It’s a little unfortunate how people do that.”

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While those comments may have sounded a bit ominous and defensive, Edey showed in 2023-2024 that he could rise up from the ashes to lead a program deep into the postseason. He averaged over 25 points and 12 rebounds per game, to go along with over two blocks per contest.

The individual honors he received as a junior may have seemed a bit hollow considering the loss to Farleigh Dickinson, but Edey’s career accomplishments are nothing to sneeze at. He’s a two-time AP Player of the Year, and a two-time Wooden award winner. As far as college basketball performers go, fans would be hard-pressed to find a better one than Edey in recent years.

While Edey’s attitude and approach to a challenge has to help his draft prospects, his towering figure could be looked at as a concern at the NBA level. The professional game has become more about pace and space rather than physicality at the rim.

Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas said of Edey on his podcast, “You know I’m pretty sure whoever drafts him in the lottery is probably going to get fired within a few years…how he plays the game is not how the game is being played today, so that same player can be found in the second round.”

Sports Illustrated also had concerns about Edey’s physical profile. They wrote, “lacking the athletic ability and foot speed to keep up with shifty guards in a pick-and-roll heavy NBA with prolific perimeter scorers, it is tough to imagine Edey being playable defensively in the NBA on most nights.”

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As Arenas’ comments alluded to, it’s going to be interesting to see where NBA front offices are comfortable taking the Purdue star. Sporting News believes that Edey’s superb senior season has elevated his stock into the first round. SB Nation has him being taken at the end of the lottery. It also wouldn’t be surprising if teams are scared off by the red flags, and take him in the second round.

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While the agility demands of the NBA are important to bring up when projecting Edey’s effectiveness at the next level, an argument can be made that centers are becoming relevant again. Playoff teams featuring Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert and Joel Embiid have been the norm, and teams will need centers to deploy against those giants of the paint.

An Eastern Conference scout told Fox Sports, “Teams that like him will point to his massive size and ability to score effectively in the lane.”

Edey realizes that he’s not a center who will dribble the ball up the court to initiate offense. He focuses on what he does well, and works hard at those skills. He told The Ringer in March 2023, “Being different, it made me find myself. It made me embrace who I am because I can’t be like everyone else.”

Fox Sports wrote about Edey’s prowess as a rebounder. They believe he has a knack for second chance opportunities and putbacks, which will translate to the NBA.

While Edey’s ability as a pick-and-roll defender have come into question, his wherewithal to set helpful screens has been called out as a positive by Sports Illustrated. They believe that he understands screen angles that create an optimal path to the rim for his guards.

Zach Edey hails from Canada, and has had the chance to play for the Canadian national team. Practicing alongside NBA veterans and stars like Kelly Olynyk and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has given him a taste early on of what the next level might be like.

Let us know what type of player you think Zach Edey can become at the next level by leaving us a comment!

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