Grizzlies center Zach Edey will likely miss some regular season games at the start of 2025/26. He underwent surgery on Tuesday to address the laxity in his left ankle and re-stabilize it, according to a team press release (Twitter link).
Edey will be reevaluated in four months and is expected to make a full recovery, the release adds. The four-month gap before reevaluation means that Edey will not be ready to participate at the start of training camp and will require an extended rehab period.
Edey reinjured his left ankle during a workout last week. It was reported at the time that Edey would likely miss some regular season games and Tuesday’s press release essentially confirms that.
“After consulting with the Grizzlies and multiple specialists, we decided this is the best approach for Zach long-term as it gets him back to 100% with no limitations,” Edey’s agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told ESPN’s Sham Charania last week. “He will make a full recovery and be back better than ever.”
Edey dealt with left ankle soreness throughout his rookie season after a stellar college career at Purdue. The No. 9 pick in last year’s draft started 55 of the 66 games he played while averaging 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 21.5 minutes per night and posting .580/.346/.709 shooting numbers.
Edey was a first-team All-Rookie selection and finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year balloting.
His injury could impact the way the Grizzlies approach the offseason. Two of the club’s other frontcourt players are headed to free agency — Santi Aldama (restricted) and Marvin Bagley III (unrestricted).
Get well Zach …. come back better stronger …..
this opens up an opportunity for Bagley, probably his last shot at a real position. Show that he can be a rotation player.
this guy needs a point guard that can get him the ball.
Agree
He is a center and is prone to injuries like any other center in this league.
Ha
Edey was the ROY, real shame that he didn’t win the vote. This season so many narratives were made out and sadly folks believed that, like SGA winning the MVP… so many unfair awards winners!