Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Edey Surges To NBA Rookie Of The Year Betting Favorite After One Summer League Game

It took only one NBA Summer League game for Memphis Grizzlies C Zach Edey to become the favorite to win the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year. After his outstanding performance in Memphis's 97-95 overtime win over the Utah Jazz in his Salt Lake City Summer League Monday, Edey's Rookie of the Year odds shot up to +600 on DraftKings and FanDuel. 

Edey opened with +1200 odds on FanDuel to win Rookie of the Year following the 2024 NBA Draft. He was tied with Charlotte Hornets PF, and No. 6 pick, Tidjane Saiaun, for the seventh-best odds to win the award. Atlanta Hawks big, and No. 2 pick, Alexandre Sarr now has the second-best odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year (+700) after opening as the favorite (+450).  

The former Purdue Boilermaker balled so hard in his first NBA game that the Grizzlies sat him in their second and third Summer League games vs. the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday and Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday, respectively. This is a hunch, but I'd be surprised if Edey played another pointless Summer League game. 

Despite being the first guy since Ralph Sampson in 1982-83 to win back-to-back Naismith College Player of the Year awards in 2023-24 at Purdue, Memphis drafting Edey ninth overall was considered a "reach" by NBA analysts. Naysayers think the 7-foot-4 big lacks the athleticism and lateral quickness to play in today's NBA. 

But, Edey is perfect for the Grizzlies. He will play alongside the 2021-22 NBA Defensive of the Player (DPOY), SG Marcus Smart, and the 2022-23 DPOY, PF Jaren Jackson Jr. Smart is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and Jackson is an elite rim protector. Two years ago, while healthy and before acquiring Smart, Memphis was second in defensive rating. 

READ: Clay Travis Says Memphis Grizzlies Whiffed By Not Picking Vols Hero In NBA Draft

Furthermore, Edey's size helps Jackson in particular. He needs a true center with him on the floor to help grab boards and for spacing. Jackson's aggressiveness leads to stupid fouls, and he only averages 5.5 rebounds per game for his career. However, when Edey is out there, Jackson has less ground to cover, allowing him to focus on shiftier bigs and forwards. 

Memphis Grizzlies rookie C Zach Edey dunks on Utah Jazz C Walker Kessler in a 2024 NBA Salt Lake Summer League game. (Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

Also, the Purdue alum might get easy buckets as Ja Morant's roll man in the pick-and-roll or putbacks when Morant attacks the rim. Ultimately, Edey's path to Rookie of the Year is doable. If he averages a double-double as a starter and the Grizzlies get back to playing top-10 defense, Edey can win the award. 

That said, I'm not ready to pull the trigger on any NBA Futures even though Edey is my early pick for Rookie of the Year. Firstly, it's July and I don't want to tie up my money for the next 11 months on a +600 wager. This would be a different conversation if Edey had +4000 odds or higher. 

Finally, Sarr and other rookies, such as Houston Rockets SG Reed Shepherd and San Antonio Spurs wing Stephon Castle, could play well in the Summer League or preseason, causing Edey's odds to increase. Instead of panicking in the dog days of summer, let's wait until closer to the start of the season when we have more information. 

_____________________________

Follow me on X (or Twitter, whatever) @Geoffery-Clark and check out my OutKick Bets Podcast for more betting content and random rants.