Well, all eyes on Memphis Grizzlies these days. And why wouldn’t they be? Ja Morant is expected to make a heroic comeback. And rookie Zach Edey is certainly looking like the next big thing. Coming out of a dominant college career at Purdue, he was picked No. 9 by the Grizzlies in this year’s draft. And the big man is already beginning to turn some heads in his locker room. After attending Ja Morant’s summer workouts, the superstar was so impressed by Edey that he warned the entire league about his arrival, as his teammate Luke Kennard marveled at the growing team chemistry which could take Memphis to new heights.

Addressing Zach Edey’s potential in a recent interview with Matt Infield, Ja Morant made a bold prediction, “Definitely Rookie of the Year. I think easy too.” With a 7’4 frame and a high basketball IQ, Ja claimed he was not surprised to see Edey dominate college ball the way he did. And the rookie’s hunger to get better during Ja’s “bootcamp” only made his belief stronger.

“So for him to come in and say he wanna workout and then get to the workout throughout the whole week. It was big time for him,” Morant admitted before re-emphasizing his ROTY pick. While Zach Edey’s size might be the most prominent aspect of his game, Ja was also left in awe of his shooting touch. Apart from being an 18.2-point scorer in college, the Canadian was also highly efficient, with a 62.1% shooting accuracy.

Zach Edey’s infectious energy even motivated Ja Morant, “Obviously, made me excited to have him on the team.” Meanwhile, Grizzlies’ sharpshooter Luke Kennard also had high praise for Edey, saying, “Big Zach has surprised a lot of people out there, so we’re looking forward to what he can do and how he can help us this year.”

Sure enough, the arrival of Zach Edey and the return of several stars who were injured last season has filled the Memphis Grizzlies with a newfound energy and competitiveness which was evident during their recent five-on-five workouts, “Something I haven’t really seen before. We’re really pushing each other and competing really hard. I think that’s going to go a long way. We start that right now. We’re getting a few steps ahead until the season starts,” Kennard revealed. Sure enough, if the Grizzlies pay their cards right, they could return to being title contenders very soon. But a major issue could halt the team’s momentum!

Zach Edey must overcome one major weakness to live up to Ja Morant’s expectations

With Ja Morant and other superstars returning from injury, their team is expected to take a massive leap next season. But his prophecy about Zach Edey has a shot of coming true only if the rookie can stay healthy and available for the entire year. And that could be a major challenge for him because of his 7’4 frame. Yes, there is no denying the Canadian’s talent as he was an elite scorer in college and even averaged 12.2 rebounds in his senior year.

Moreover, he even had a decent showing in the Summer League when he suited up, as he dropped 14 points along with 15 boards and 4 crucial blocks. But what raised concerns was that he rolled his right ankle after he stepped on an opponent’s foot during a block attempt in a game against the Pelicans. That injury caused him to miss the rest of the Summer League games.

Moreover, he has been dealing with ankle soreness for the past few months and injuries are a major concern among big men as it tends to derail their career. While Edey definitely has the potential to win Rookie of the Year, he will need to stay healthy if he wants to bag that trophy and, more importantly, help the Grizzlies win.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.