"Building that chemistry": Grizzlies' Zach Edey talks NBA debut and his connection with Ja Morant, including that lob (Exclusive)
Zach Edey made his Memphis Grizzlies debut in a 121-116 preseason victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday at the American Airlines Center. The 7-foot-4 center showcased his impressive potential, catching two alley-oop lobs, including a highlight-reel dunk from Ja Morant that hinted at the exciting chemistry developing between the two. Edey also swatted away a shot attempt from Jaden Hardy, seemingly without leaving the ground.
In roughly 18 minutes of action, Edey totaled six points, seven rebounds, and one block, displaying where he's currently at in his development ahead of the regular season. However, the rookie faced challenges as well, picking up five fouls and demonstrating areas for growth while adjusting to the NBA's pace and defensive schemes.
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Edey reflected on his first game experience, the importance of building chemistry with Morant, and his ongoing development as he adapts to the professional level.
Zach Edey Interview (Exclusive)
Q: What were your overall impressions of your first NBA game?
Zach Edey:
"It was good. Just getting out there, getting a feel for everything, seeing what it looks like in a real game."
Q: You had a lot of connections with Ja out there. How’s your chemistry building with him so far?
Zach Edey:
"For sure, just building that chemistry on and off the court. It's really important, and we’re still working on it. It’s not done by any means, but we’re continuing to develop it."
Q: You spent some time before the season working at SMU with him. Do you feel that helped you build that chemistry early?
Zach Edey:
"Definitely. Getting to work with him early was really helpful, just starting that process of building chemistry."
Q: You’ve had plenty of time practicing with NBA players on Team Canada. How has that helped your career up to this point?
Zach Edey:
"It's helped a lot. Team Canada is super athletic and physical, so it prepared me for the pace. I've seen this pace before, but now I’m just trying to figure out how to play in it."
Q: Now that you've put in the work, how different is it to finally get out there in live action compared to practice?
Zach Edey:
"It's a little different. In practice, you stick to principles. But in the game, you just play. It’s the final test to really get started."
Q: What are some of the focuses in your development that you're working on currently?
Zach Edey:
"I'm trying to figure out how to play within the offense—what types of shots I’ll get, what reads I need to make, and how to smoothly implement myself into it."
Q: You had training camp last week. What are your takeaways, and what are you looking to build on during the rest of the preseason?
Zach Edey:
"Training camp was great. I’m focusing on getting more comfortable in the offense, and figuring out my looks and reads. It’s about building on all of that."
Q: As a rim protector, how has the adjustment been learning the NBA schemes and communicating on the court?
Zach Edey:
"It's different. In college, my role was to alter shots without fouling. In the NBA, I can really chase blocks, so it’s a new challenge for me."
Q: How did your time in college with Coach Painter prepare you for the NBA, and do you see any similarities between his coaching and Coach Jenkins’?
Zach Edey:
"For sure. There are natural things that translate. We played a drop defense at Purdue, and we do the same here. It’s about taking what I learned and implementing it differently now."
Q: I noticed at halftime you were working on your footwork in the post. How do you think that's progressed throughout your career?
Zach Edey:
"It’s like everything else—just getting more comfortable with it. You saw what my post footwork was like in college, and now I’m figuring out how to implement that into the system here."