Memphis will be without its towering anchor for a while. The Grizzlies announced Thursday that second-year center Zach Edey has a stress reaction in his left ankle and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
It’s the same ankle that sidelined Edey for the first 13 games of the season following offseason surgery, an absence that made his recent surge all the more impactful. Since returning, the 7-foot-3 Canadian has averaged 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks as Memphis has gone 7-4 with him in the lineup.
Edey has picked up the pace of late, averaging 16.5 points, 14 boards and 2.2 blocks with the Grizzlies winning five of their last six.
Edey’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said the decision to shut him down was made to protect the big man’s long-term health.
“This is a management plan to optimize Zach’s long-term health in consultation with the Grizzlies and medical experts,” Bartelstein told ESPN. “Following this step, the short- and long-term prognosis for Zach is excellent.”
Based on the club’s timeline, Edey would miss at least 15 games, starting with Friday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz.
The news arrives as point guard Ja Morant nears a return from a calf strain that knocked him out less than six minutes into Edey’s season debut. Morant has missed the last 10 games and is listed as questionable for Friday’s game.
Edey was selected ninth overall by Memphis in the 2024 NBA Draft and has played 77 of a possible 106 games across two seasons while battling ankle injuries. For his career, he’s averaging 9.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.
Also, guard John Konchar will undergo a procedure to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. He was injured during Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
