The Memphis Grizzlies surprised fans when they revealed that one of their critical 2024-25 contributors would undergo a surgery this offseason that could require a multi-month recuperation timeline.
All-Rookie Team starting center Zach Edey is slated to be on the shelf for at least four months — meaning he could miss the start of the 2025-26 NBA season — as he recovers from a left ankle surgery, Memphis' public relations X account announced on Tuesday.
"Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey underwent successful surgery today to address the laxity in his left ankle and re-stabilize it," Memphis writes. "Edey will be re-evaluated in four months and is expected to make a full recovery."
Apr 5, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) during payers introductions before their game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Apr 5, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) during payers introductions before their game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Now, fans have weighed in on the latest health issue for a key Grizzlies star.
"Just put him out of the season bruh," writes fan @StephAntMVP.
Given that the Grizzlies' offseason just started last month, and that the 7-foot-4 big man's projected return (as of this writing) is slated for October, there's no reason to expect that Edey won't be available at some point in the fall. Sitting him out for an entire 82-game season plus the playoffs seems unnecessary at this juncture, unless further complications arise.
Surprisingly, this wasn't the only pessimistic perspective on an Edey comeback trajectory.
"So just say he [is] out for the year," proposes Desmond Bane appreciator @BanesABucket.
This approach is unwarranted, but Grizzlies fans have been burned before by their frontcourt stars' health problems in recent years. Now-former center Steven Adams and power forward/center Brandon Clarke have both missed significant time. Clarke missed the end of the 2022-23 season and all but six games in 2023-24 with a torn left Achilles, and subsequently incurred a high-grade right knee PCL sprain in March this year that caused him to miss the rest of the regular season and the playoffs.
"We're cursed bro," writes @rockoutdeus, along with a heartbroken emoji.
Memphis finished the year with a respectable 48-34 record and the No. 8 seed in a tough Western Conference. The club was quickly swept out of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are currently 1-1 in the NBA Finals. Edey, the No. 9 pick out of Purdue, averaged 9.2 points, 8.3 boards, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 assists in 66 healthy contests last year (55 starts).
"Flash forward to 6 months from now... 'The following medical update says Edey is progressing and there is no timetable on his return,” writes @MADixon90. "We have seen this same story 1000 times."
Memphis fans can be forgiven for their skepticism, given the club's rash of health issues (we haven't even touched on the injury woes of Ja Morant).