If you just look at the box score after a Memphis Grizzlies game, you might think you’ve seen the whole story. You see the height, you see the points, and you figure, "Yeah, he's just big." But honestly, zach edey nba stats tell a much more complicated story than just being a 7-foot-4 guy standing near a hoop.
He's a disruptor.
When the Grizzlies took him 9th overall, half the internet lost its mind. People called him a "throwback" or a "dinosaur" who wouldn't be able to keep up with the pace of the modern NBA. Fast forward to the 2025-26 season, and the numbers are starting to make those critics look a little silly.
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The Sophomore Jump is Real
Coming off a rookie year where he averaged a solid 9.2 points and 8.3 rebounds, Edey has clearly spent his time in the lab. Through his first 11 games of the 2025-26 campaign, he’s upped his production to 13.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.
That’s a double-double average in under 26 minutes of floor time.
Think about that for a second. Most guys need 35 minutes to sniff those kinds of numbers. Edey is doing it in short, violent bursts of efficiency. His field goal percentage has climbed to a ridiculous 63.3%, mostly because he’s stopped settling for "finesse" shots and started trying to tear the rim off.
It hasn't been all sunshine, though. He’s been dealing with a nagging left ankle injury that sidelined him in late December 2025 and early January 2026. When he’s out, the Grizzlies' defense looks… well, vulnerable.
Why Zach Edey NBA Stats Don't Show Everything
Stats like blocks per game (1.9 currently) are great, but they don't capture the "Edey Effect."
When he’s on the floor, the Grizzlies have a defensive rating of 96.7. When he sits? That number balloons to 119.6. That is a massive swing. Basically, his presence alone makes the team nearly 23 points better per 100 possessions on the defensive end.
Opposing guards see him in the paint and just… turn around. They don't want the smoke.
The Sacramento Explosion
If you want to see what his ceiling looks like, go back to November 30, 2025, against the Kings. Edey went nuclear. He dropped a career-high 32 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and swatted 5 shots.
He became only the third player in Grizzlies history to put up a 30/15/3 stat line, joining Pau Gasol and Zach Randolph. That's elite company. He wasn't just catching lobs; he was dominating the glass and protecting the rim like a seasoned vet.
Rebounding Gravity
Here is a stat that's kinda wild: when Edey is on the floor, the Grizzlies rebound over 80% of opponents' misses.
He’s so huge that teams have to put two people on him just to keep him off the glass. This leaves guys like Jaren Jackson Jr. or Jaylen Wells free to swoop in and grab the "easy" boards. He’s the ultimate "dirty work" superstar.
Addressing the "Slow" Allegations
The biggest knock on Edey was always his lateral quickness. "He'll get cooked in the pick-and-roll," they said.
Is he a lockdown perimeter defender? No. But he’s smarter than people give him credit for. He uses those long strides to cover ground, and his 94.5 defensive rating (best in the NBA for players with 20+ mins) suggests he’s figured out how to make his size work in space.
Interestingly, he’s even started to stretch the floor—sorta. He’s taking about half a three-pointer per game. He’s only hitting them at a 20% clip this season (down from 34.6% as a rookie), but the fact that defenders even have to think about him at the arc is a win for Memphis’ spacing.
What’s Next for Big Zach?
If you’re tracking zach edey nba stats for fantasy or just because you’re a fan, the key is health. His ankle has been the only thing truly capable of stopping him lately.
The advanced metrics are screaming that he’s a foundational piece. His +17.7 net rating is among the best in the league. He isn't just a role player; he’s becoming a focal point.
To really see his impact, stop watching the ball. Watch the way the entire opposing offense changes its shape when he enters the game. They stop driving. They start settling for mid-range jumpers. That is the true value of a 7-foot-4 giant who actually knows how to play.
Keep a close eye on his free throw percentage too. He’s currently at 78.1%, which is phenomenal for a guy his size. If he keeps hitting those, teams can't even resort to "Hack-a-Edey" to slow him down. He’s a problem that the rest of the NBA hasn't quite figured out how to solve yet.
Check the injury reports for his return from the ankle surgery recovery. Once he's back to 30 minutes a night, we might be looking at a guy who casually drops 20 and 15 every other week.
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To get the most out of following Edey's progression, monitor his on-off splits rather than just his raw point totals. This reveals his true value to the Grizzlies' defensive structure. Additionally, watch his Free Throw Rate (FTr); if he continues to draw fouls at his current pace while shooting near 80%, he becomes one of the most efficient high-volume scorers in the league.