Following a strong start to his summer league debut, Zach Edey redeemed himself after a late mistake on Monday night in Salt Lake City.
Surprisingly, his efforts were not enough to secure a victory for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The former Purdue standout, who was chosen by the Grizzlies as the No. 9 overall pick in a surprising move during the NBA Draft lottery last month, missed a crucial game-winning dunk towards the end of the game against the Utah Jazz.
However, with just 0.8 seconds remaining, Edey managed to tip-in a shot after an intentionally missed free throw, forcing the game into overtime. This play, which is often unsuccessful, was executed perfectly.
Despite his impressive performance, the Jazz claimed victory in the Elam Ending-style overtime period with Keyonte George scoring the winning points from the free-throw line. George, the No. 16 overall pick from last year’s draft out of Baylor, scored 30 points in the game.
Although Edey struggled after a strong start, he finished with a double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds, shooting 7-of-12 from the field. He also delivered a powerful dunk over 7-footer Walker Kessler in the fourth quarter.
The Jazz made a comeback from a double-digit halftime deficit and secured the lead with a huge 3-pointer from Taylor Hendricks in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. Edey’s missed dunk looked like it would seal the Grizzlies’ fate, but his last-minute tip-in kept their hopes alive.
Edey grabbed six of his 15 rebounds in the first quarter, received a technical foul before halftime, and had a minor injury scare in the third quarter. Despite these setbacks, he returned to the game and finished strong.
Scotty Pippen Jr. led the Grizzlies with 21 points and five assists, while Jake LaRavia contributed 18 points and seven rebounds. Kessler recorded 10 points, six rebounds, and four blocks for the Jazz, alongside George’s impressive 30-point performance.
During his time at Purdue, Edey led the nation in scoring with 25.2 points per game and earned his second consecutive national player of the year award. He also averaged 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, guiding the Boilermakers to the national championship game.
Projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick after the NCAA tournament, Edey’s draft stock rose significantly leading up to the NBA Draft. Despite not being the first center selected, Edey’s potential was evident to the Grizzlies.
Edey and the Jazz will continue their summer league games before heading to Las Vegas for further competition. Despite some inconsistencies, Edey showcased glimpses of his potential as a key player for the Grizzlies this season. Overall, his summer league debut was promising.