Where can Grizzlies' Zach Edey improve most? The small steps the NBA's biggest player can take

HOUSTON As the Memphis Grizzlies waved the white flag and cleared the bench with three minutes left in the fourth quarter, rookie Zach Edey was stopped by head coach Taylor Jenkins on his way off the floor.

It was a peculiar time for a chat.

The game was still ongoing and both Jenkins and Edey were seated at the edge of the scorers table, but Jenkins deemed the teaching moment more valuable than chasing a result against the Rockets that wasnt coming.

Advertisement As Jenkins spoke, Edey sat and listened.

The disappointment on the rookies face was clear, but the veteran coach has taken pride in relating to his players on a personal level.

Just helping the young kid grow, Jenkins said when asked about their discussion.

His reluctance to elaborate on what was said especially since Jenkins is the antithesis of brief was important.

Edey also spoke with former Grizzlies center Steven Adams (who now plays in Houston) after the final buzzer but preferred to keep that interaction private.

I dont really like telling people about my conversations, Edey said about any advice passed down from Adams.

Id rather keep that between me and the person Im talking to.

Despite being the largest man in the NBA at 7 feet 4 and 305 pounds, Edey blends into his surroundings rather than standing out.

He prefers it this way.

In the locker room, where NBA YoungBoys songs are blaring and teammates are joking and unwinding, Edey often has his headphones on, either scrolling on his phone or deep in thought.

Edeys stoic demeanor could be mistaken for anger but its not hes just locked in.

In an age of parity where nearly two-thirds of the NBA has competitive rosters, rookies arent expected to take on big responsibilities.

Of the top 10 players taken in the 2024 NBA Draft, eight of them come off the bench.

But Edey has been thrust into a starting role at a time when Memphis is aiming to get back to the postseason.

Through three games, Edey is averaging just 8.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.3 blocks per game but development is double-sided.

Just as Edey needs to learn how to play in Jenkins system, his teammates need to learn how to augment his skill set.

Im just taking it game by game, Edey said.

Trying to get better one game at a time.

Keep improving.

Advertisement Last week, both Ja Morant and Jenkins spoke about adjusting to Edeys enormous post presence, even within the high-octane offense being implemented.

The Grizzlies have committed to running the ball, currently fourth in pace (105.83 possessions per game, according to NBA.com), a stark contrast to Edeys prior experience.

In college, Edey was the leading scorer of a methodical, slowed offense tailored to his style.

Theres a natural adjustment period.

We didnt really get up and down too much at Purdue, Edey said.

We were more in the half court, slow the pace down.

But its just basketball.

You just have to adjust.

I see him making strides, Jenkins said.

Hes got to find more consistency in it.

We talk about a role change, not just on the offensive side but defensively as well its going to be new for him.

Giving him simple cues where he can get out and run, hes displayed that.

I think hes going to fit in great the dominating force he can be on the inside if he can get ahead of the defense or an even matchup to draw the defense inside and create an outlet.

Theres an urge for Edey to run because of the advantages he creates with his size.

You cant teach 7-4.

According to tracking data, Edey has 10 frontcourt touches through three games.

Thats the lowest of any rotation player outside of Yuki Kawamura , who averages 2.8 minutes a game.

For comparison, Jaren Jackson Jr.

, who made his regular season debut over the weekend, has 22.0 and Scotty Pippen Jr.

, the reserve backup point guard, has 22.7.

To solve this issue, Morant has committed to breaking down film with Edey.

The goal is to find ways to get Edey easier looks and more touches to increase his confidence and get him, as Morant says, to be a man in the paint.

Its hard for defenders to fight around Edey when hes able to seal smaller players off and wedge himself between the rim and the player.

The Grizzlies want Edey to get as deep as possible to give them an easy outlet, either for him to be able to finish in the paint or have an outlet pass for a shooter on the perimeter.

Ive been trying to get my positioning right, Edey said.

Get low, get deep.

Its a process for everybody.

Were going to adjust and get to it.

Just gotta get deeper, Jenkins said.

I keep talking about owning the paint and putting himself in positions, and we gotta reward him.

Hes doing a good job growing about getting out of the way when guys are driving, not clogging up the space.

But when hes in great position, we gotta get him the ball too.

Hes doing a great job figuring things out, we gotta help him too.

Advertisement As a defender, Edey moves his feet with decent lateral quickness and with time, will be able to contain quicker players.

The Grizzlies like to have him in drop coverage, using his 7-10 wingspan to protect the rim.

Per Second Spectrum, players are shooting 58.3 percent on attempts within six feet of the rim where Edey is the primary defender.

Advanced stats dont currently paint Edey in a strong light according to PBP Stats, Memphis is a plus-9 with him off the floor and minus-25 with him on (135.5 defensive rating) but context is important in evaluating rookies.

The 2024-25 season is still less than a week old and the Grizzlies have several injuries.

Jackson just returned on Saturday, and the former Defensive Player of the Year will surely make Edeys job easier as they work in tandem.

Improving as a defender, for Edey, starts on the glass.

He needs to be more physical securing possessions with rebounds.

Per NBA.com, Edey has over 10 rebounding opportunities a game but is converting only 48 percent of them.

Theres no exact science to it positioning and timing helps, but it comes down to who wants it more.

Jenkins spoke about his rookie needing to figure out the bounces and speed of shots, but also learning how to withstand contact.

Listed at just over 300 pounds, few players rival his size but he needs to make his presence felt.

Edey is an exciting young player who has only scratched the surface of his potential.

Behind the scenes, the Grizzlies, who are leaning heavily into 3-point shooting, are working slowly to turn Edey into a floor spacer.

The rookie is often grouped with fellow big men Santi Aldama, Jay Huff and Brandon Clarke at the end of practice and the four will go through shooting gauntlets with the training staff.

The word from inside the locker room is Edeys shooting form is smooth and hes hit a decent amount outside of game day (Edey hit his first 3 against Orlando over the weekend).

But even outside of that, Edey has spent time with them, watching and learning.

Its been good, Edey said of the brotherhood of bigs.

Theyre real good guys.

Just helping me out, talking in my ears and giving me support and encouragement.

I asked Edeys teammates in the starting lineup who have been around the league for a few years for their rookie advice.

Jake LaRavia also wanted to join in on the exercise.

Heres what they had to say: Ja Morant , sixth-year guard: Never too high, never too low.

You might have some tough games, you might have one of the best games of your life.

Just stay the course, stay grounded and keep the main thing, the main thing.

Advertisement Desmond Bane , fifth-year guard: Have fun, enjoy the journey.

Thats it.

Have fun and enjoy the journey.

Marcus Smart , 11th-year guard: Control what you can control.

Its going to be a lot of things in this league that you can and cant control.

Worry about the ones you can and let the others handle themselves.

Santi Aldama , fourth-year forward: My advice would be just be yourself and try to find yourself within the system.

I think hes done a great job.

Hes really hardworking, listens and asks good questions.

Just keep doing that, really.

The NBA is something different, hes been great in college.

The next step for him is being a sponge, trying to soak up as much as possible in his rookie season.

Jake LaRavia , fourth-year forward: Theres going to be a lot of highs and lows.

Keep it cool, stay calm and collected through everything.

Theres going to be adversity hes going to face but keep your head down, stay locked in and grind.

And run hard.

Run hard.

(Photo of Zach Edey and Houstons Alperen Sengun: Tim Warner / Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.