The NBA future of Purdue big man Zach Edey has been a popular debate topic during the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Edey is well on his way to being named the National Player of the Year for a second straight season and rightfully so.
He has been arguably the most dominant player in college basketball this season. Edey has averaged 25 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 blocks in 31.6 minutes, playing in and starting all 37 games for the Boilermakers.
His dominance has been on full display during the tournament. He has scored at least 23 points with 14 rebounds in all four games. Edey has been efficient from the field and the charity stripe, presenting no real course of action for opponents to slow him down.
Once the NCAA Tournament is over and the NBA pre-draft process begins, Edey will be someone that evaluators and fans keep a close eye on. While he is dominant in college, there are some questions and concerns about how his game will translate in the league.
Some evaluators don’t believe Edey will have much of a career in the NBA. He is going to get picked on defensively because of his lack of lateral quickness and speed, as opponents will blow him to the basket.
But, this is a talented player with at least one elite trait in his size that you cannot teach. One NBA scout who spoke to NBA Analysis Network believes that there will be a spot for Edey in the league even if he doesn’t turn into a superstar.
“All of the polarizing conversations about Zach Edey should not distract from the player. He may never be an NBA superstar, but there’s definitely a place for him. Edey is a skilled post player. He’ll need to work on developing a mid-range shot, but outside of that I think a lot of teams have him in the middle of the first round.”
How well Edey shoots free throws for someone his size has given some confidence that he can develop a mid-range jumper. If he can do that, there is potential for him offensively as the NBA is becoming more and more perimeter-orientated every season.
Teams struggle in the modern NBA when the game is slowed down and played in the halfcourt. That is a setting in which Edey could thrive, as he has the skill and size to overwhelm opponents when in the post.
It will be interesting to see how his professional career pans out. Edey will need to land in the right situation to make it work, and a coaching staff willing to work and develop him would be ideal. If not, he could have a career similar to Boban Marjanovic, who has been in the NBA for 10 seasons but has only been a part-time, end-of-the-bench kind of player.
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