Sprained ankle again! Grizzlies 2.24m center will undergo surgery: expected to miss the start of the new season

On June 8, Beijing time, according to ESPN's Shams, Grizzlies center Zach Edie sprained his left ankle again in offseason training earlier this week and will undergo surgery to stabilize his ankle and is expected to miss the early stages of the 2025-26 season.

Edie's agent, Priority Sports' Mark Battlestein, told ESPN: "After consulting with the Grizzlies and multiple experts, we believe this is the best option for Zach to develop in the long term, allowing him to fully return to 100 percent without any restrictions. He's going to make a full recovery and he'll be back even better than ever. ”

Edy, who is 2.24m tall (73 first-team votes and 27 second-team votes), was the only three players to appear on all 100 NBA Rookie All-Rookie votes, along with Stephen Castle of the Spurs and Riesachet of the Hawks. Another rookie from the Grizzlies, Jalen Wells, and the Wizards' Sarr are two other players named to the All-Rookie First Team. Edie finished fifth in the NBA Rookie of the Year poll, an award that was ultimately won by Castle.

As the No. 9 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Edie ranks first among all rookies in shooting percentage (58%) and rebounds per game (8.3), fourth in blocks and second in total plus/minus (+164). He also contributed 12 double-doubles (points + rebounds) this season, the most of a Grizzlies rookie since Mark Gasol in 2008-09.

In April, Edie averaged 15.7 rebounds per game in six games, including a career-high 21 rebounds in an April 6 win over the Pistons, breaking a 29-year-old rookie record.

He has also suffered ankle problems this season, having missed 12 games after spraining his left ankle in a Nov. 18 win over the Nuggets.

Edie described his rookie season as "up and down," in part due to injuries.

'There's a lot to be positive about this season and a lot to improve,' Edie said in an interview with the team's departure in late April. Once I'm in rhythm and in shape and don't have to worry about a slight sprain or something like that, I think that's when I started to show my strength. That's something I'll keep in mind. ”