One of the most polarizing prospects that will be in the 2024 NBA Draft is Purdue big man, Zach Edey. There is no denying how good of a college basketball player Edey has become, as he is looking to win the National Player of the Year award for a second consecutive season.
Taking home the award would not be surprising as Edey has been truly dominant this season. He is averaging 25 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game. The Boilermakers are also finding a ton of success as a team, as they are set to face off against NC State in the Final Four this weekend.
While Edey is focused on closing out his collegiate career on a high note, many people have been discussing what his basketball future may hold. Namely, how will Edey’s game translate to the ever-changing landscape of the NBA?
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Zach Edey, 2024 NBA Draft, Purdue Boilermakers Updates
There has been a lot of debate about how Edey, an interior player who does almost all his damage in the paint, can make an impact in the NBA, where the game is dominated on the perimeter. While many analysts don’t believe that Edey will succeed at the next level, some are buying in.
One of the people buying in is Corey Tulaba. He took to X to share an in-depth breakdown of why be believes that Edey is going to find success at the next level. One of the main points of his argument is that Edey has shown the ability to change and adapt previously and will do it again.
What it comes down to is Edey isn’t just a stiff big man who plays because he has a size advantage over his opponents. He has legitimate skills, some of which should translate to the NBA even with positionless basketball becoming the go-to style of play,
One comp people have mentioned is Rudy Gobert. Edey’s measurements at the NBA Combine last year make him slightly taller and longer than Gobert is. Gobert is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year award winner but doesn’t offer as much of an impact offensively.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Zach Edey, 2024 NBA Draft, Purdue Boilermakers Updates
Why can’t Edey be the opposite of Gobert? A player capable of making an impact offensively, while having the size to make his presence felt defensively? Edey may not have DPOY upside, but a player with his skill level and mobility will find ways to make a play.
He is a dominant low-post player with a much more polished game than Gobert has. His free throwing shooting percentage hints that eventually expanding his range offensively is certainly possible.
If he can land in the right situation with a team and coach willing to put the work in to develop him, Edey could have a fruitful career. He has been compared to Boban Marjanovic by some NBA evaluators and that honestly isn’t the worst outcome. Not many people can say they had a 10-year NBA career as Marjanovic has had to this point.
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