One of the most controversial prospects in this year’s NBA Draft is big man Zach Edey. Zach Edey led Purdue to the national championship game against the blue blood UConn Huskies, the defending champions. Edey had one of the most dominant two-years runs of any player to a individual standpoint, winning Naismith Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, while also posting a double-double average in each season. He represents an old model of a NBA center and that is why most people will not give him the credit he deserves. We will dive into Edey’s NBA outlook, identifying his strengths, weaknesses, and his pro comparison.
Strengths:
Scoring: Edey can score at will, as shown in college. Once he is inside the post, he has the ability to score with a hook or a layup standing at seven foot, five inches. He can get to the line at ease and score that way too, shooting 71% from the line, which is average for a big man. He can’t shoot the deep ball, but with some coaching and development that area of his game can be developed and could be a hidden trait in his game.
Defensive Awareness: Edey is very aware of what is happening on the defensive side of the basketball. He is physical with the defender and it was rare for him to draw fouls on that end of the floor. Yes, some might say some of the calls were questionable and rightfully so, but at the end of the day he did not foul much at the collegiate level while being very physical inside.
Weaknesses:
Shooting: As of right now, Edey just can’t shoot the basketball, plain and simple. He made one three-point shot in his career and has struggled at the free throw line and to develop a mid-range game. If he can get these things even remotely close to an average product, he may be unstoppable.
Speed: At such a tall frame,. Edey struggles to accelerate and sprint back to transition offense or defense. If you have a much quicker, but less physical big on Edey, that big may win more times than not. It is hard to tell whether it was a lack of speed training or just his frame holding him back, but Edey can not transition quickly enough at the college level. The NBA does play a slow brand of basketball compared to alot of collegiate teams, so this may not be a big deal in the transition game. It will be a big deal down in the post or the ability to blow by Edey down the lane, driving to the basket.
NBA Comparison:
Edey’s NBA comparison is Steven Adams, but a with less speed and toughness. Obviously we have not had a player as tall as Zach Edey is, so it is hard to say who his NBA comparison is. His ceiling could be Alperen Sengun and his floor is Boban Marjanovic.
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