The Memphis Grizzlies’ next All-Star candidate may already be in the building, and the clearest name in the conversation is Zach Edey.
With the franchise turning the page to a younger core that includes Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward, Cam Spencer, Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells and a group of established veterans, Memphis is trying to find its next star power after moving on from Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. The team is projected to land near the play-in range, but if the pieces come together and the West opens up a little, a Grizzlies player could have a real path to All-Star recognition.
Edey stands out first because of impact. Memphis was 27.8 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor last season, according to Cleaning the Glass, with a +1.7 offensive rating and a -26.1 defensive rating.
That was the best individual net-rating differential in the league. He is expected to average a double-double, and if that production turns into wins for Tuomas Iisalo’s team, the recognition could follow.
His case also gets a boost from opportunity. Edey would need to handle starter-level minutes every night, but he would be doing it alongside Cameron Boozer, Ty Jerome and the rest of Memphis’ emerging group.
He is also set to face a crowded center field for All-Star consideration, with Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun among the names in the mix. Under the NBA’s new All-Star format, though, Edey would be competing for a spot against the U.S.
All-Stars, a group that includes Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Duren, Chet Holmgren and others.
One assessment of Edey put it plainly: "Zach Edey is likely to lead the Grizzlies in not only rebounds and blocks, but also win shares. His numbers before being shelved last season already had the analytics nerds counting his eye-popping numbers like sheep before sleep, so given that he's stronger and looks to be in better shape, it wouldn't be too crazy if he winds up rounding out the centers alongside Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama ahead of OKC's Chet Holmgren and Houston's Alperen Sengun, who were All-Stars in '26."
Memphis also benefits from the broader landscape. The West is being described as weaker, and with LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard, among others, moving to the East in the offseason, there is less star power crowding the race for All-Star spots. That creates a window if the Grizzlies can hover around .500 when voting time arrives.
Another name worth watching is Cameron Boozer, though his path is different. One view of the roster suggests Boozer is the one generating the most buzz, even if Cedric Coward could make a jump in year two and Ty Jerome has kept scoring at a point a minute in the preseason. The same assessment noted that Memphis is being underrated and that Edey’s presence lined up with winning in a 7-3 sample last season, but Boozer’s all-around game could be what catches coaches’ attention.
Still, the rookie hurdle is steep. It is highly unusual for a first-year player to make the All-Star team, with Blake Griffin in 2011 the last rookie to do it. Even so, Boozer’s ability to stuff the stat sheet while playing the right way gives him a real chance if Memphis stays competitive.
For now, the safest answer remains Edey. If the Grizzlies are going to send one player to the 2027 NBA All-Star Game, he looks like the strongest bet.
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The sequence that traveled fastest on social media came when Wilson created separation on a made three after his defender went down, turning a routine preseason possession into the kind of clip that gets replayed immediately. Wilson then had a chance to tilt the game late with another three-point try in the final seconds, but it stayed out, leaving Memphis with the result and Wilson with a performance that was equal parts highlight reel and near-miss. [Read more 🡒]