Zach Edey
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Zach Edey of the Memphis Grizzlies has only played in 11 games this season.
The Memphis Grizzlies have been without Zach Edey since the second week of December after a left ankle injury. Edey had a positive impact on the Grizzlies, with the team winning seven of the 11 games he played in.
After being given a four-week window of recovery, Edey hasn’t been cleared to return to the court. Coach Tuomas Iisalo shared an update on the big man’s return timeline before the Grizzlies’ journey to Europe for the 2026 NBA Global Games.
According to Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal, Iisalo told reporters that Edey doesn’t have an exact return date. The Purdue product went away for a few days to consult with doctors about the stress reaction to his surgically repaired left ankle.
The coach called it a “normal procedure,” and Edey has already returned to the team. He will be with the Grizzlies for their flight to Germany and then to England. They will face the Orlando Magic in back-to-back games on January 15 in Berlin and on January 18 in London.
With those details, it’s safe to assume that Edey won’t be suiting up for the Grizzlies against the Magic. Nevertheless, he’ll be there to cheer on his teammates inside the Uber Arena and The O2 Arena, respectively.
Edey Underwent Offseason Surgery
After multiple left ankle injuries from the preseason to his rookie campaign, Zach Edey began his summer by spraining the same ankle during a workout. Edey and the Memphis Grizzlies decided that the best course of action was to undergo surgery.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Edey underwent a procedure that repaired and stabilized his left ankle last June. He had a condition called excessive ligamentous laxity in his left ankle and was given a recovery timeline of four months.
Edey was evaluated before the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, but he was not given the green light to play. He missed the first 13 games of the season, which meant that his four-month recovery timeline was extended by another 30 days or so.
The 7-foot-3 big man made his season debut on November 15 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in the 11 games he played before reinjuring his left ankle.
Grizzlies Need Edey
With the Memphis Grizzlies entertaining offers for Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies are likely rebuilding around Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey if a trade happens. The Grizzlies played really well upon Edey’s return, and they could have been in a better position if he had remained healthy.
Nekias Duncan of Yahoo! Sports opined that Edey is still miles away from turning into an elite center on both sides of the floor. He has to improve his screening to have an even bigger impact on the game.
On the defensive end, he’s already good on the interior, but he has to show strides on the perimeter.
“At worst, he’s a very useful floor raiser on both ends that’ll swing the possession battle in your favor. At his best, he just wrecks people, man. I’m excited to keep watching to see just how high his ceiling is,” Duncan wrote.
At only 23 years old, Edey has all the tools to help the Grizzlies if they enter a new era. However, he also needs to stay healthy to give Memphis its best shot at winning games.