MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The return of rookie center Zach Edey to the Memphis Grizzlies has been postponed by a few weeks following his attempt to assess the condition of his injured left ankle.
Edey, who was a two-time player of the year in college while at Purdue, initially sustained the injury on November 17 during a victory against the Denver Nuggets. The upcoming matchup against the Sacramento Kings will mark the ninth game missed by the 7-foot-4 center.
Earlier this week, there were hints that Edey was gearing up to make his comeback. He was assigned to the Memphis Hustle, the G League affiliate of the Grizzlies, to engage in workouts with the team.
“Wednesday, he was with the Hustle, testing things out. We just didn’t feel confident with his current status,” commented Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins prior to Thursday’s game. “We’re committed to a gradual progression for him over the next few weeks.”
As the ninth overall pick in last summer’s NBA draft, Edey has had an impactful season despite his injuries, averaging 11.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He has participated in 14 games this season, beginning in nine of those contests.
