The Memphis Grizzlies aren't just winning basketball games right now-they're rediscovering who they are. After a rocky start to the season that had fans and analysts alike scratching their heads, Memphis has flipped the switch with back-to-back comeback wins on the road, clawing back from double-digit deficits to take down the Pelicans in overtime and edge out the Clippers.
And just like that, they’ve climbed into 10th place in the Western Conference standings. But this isn’t just about numbers in the win column-it’s about a team finding its edge again.
And at the center of it all, both literally and figuratively, is Zach Edey.
The 7-foot-4 rookie is no longer just a promising project-he’s becoming the tone-setter for a team that’s decided it’s done being pushed around. Edey’s transformation into a legitimate All-Star candidate isn’t just about blocks and boards-it’s about presence. And right now, he’s got it in spades.
Something changed in that Memphis locker room, and Edey isn’t shy about what sparked it. According to him, the wake-up call came during a halftime huddle in New Orleans, when the team collectively owned up to what they already knew: they weren’t playing Grizzlies basketball. They weren’t physical, they weren’t connected, and they certainly weren’t proud of what they were putting on the floor.
“I think it says a lot about our group and the pride we have in being the more physical team,” Edey said after the win over the Pelicans. “Everybody knew we weren't doing what we needed to do, and it made us look silly.”
That moment of honesty turned into a rallying cry. Since then, Memphis has leaned into its identity-gritty, tough, and unafraid to get its hands dirty.
And Edey has become the embodiment of that mindset. He’s not just protecting the rim or grabbing rebounds-he’s doing the little things that don’t always show up in the box score but win games.
Tap-out rebounds. Rotations that force a pass.
Screens that free up teammates. He’s playing winning basketball.
And his view on rebounding says it all.
“Defensive rebounding is more of a team stat,” Edey explained. “Offensive rebounding is an individual stat.
As long as we get the rebound on defense, I'm cool. On offense is where you go make plays as a rebounder.”
That kind of self-awareness and humility is rare in a player his age, and it’s exactly why his teammates are rallying around him. The chemistry in this group is starting to click, and it’s not just about X’s and O’s-it’s about joy. Edey talks about a locker room full of guys who love playing together, who are locked in on the process of competing hard and doing it the right way.
“There are a lot of people just enjoying playing basketball right now,” Edey said. “We're just enjoying the whole process of playing hard, playing together, and we're playing great basketball.
You can see that all down our bench. Everybody knows we're playing great.”
That joy is contagious, and it’s translating on the court. Memphis suddenly looks like a team that believes again-tough to beat, fun to watch, and anchored by a rookie who’s growing into a star before our eyes.
And the belief in Edey isn’t just coming from the fans or the coaching staff-it’s coming from his teammates. In a pivotal moment against the Pelicans, backup center Jock Landale told head coach Tuomas Iisalo to leave Edey in the game during crunch time.
That’s not just a vote of confidence-that’s a recognition of impact.
“It means a lot,” Edey said. “I know everyone on the team and staff has my back.
They believe in me, believe in letting me play through mistakes. That's all I really needed to help the team.”
But Edey knows there’s another level to reach. While his unselfish play has been a foundation for the team’s turnaround, he’s now looking to assert himself more offensively. He’s not just content to kick it out after grabbing an offensive board-he wants to put pressure on the rim and make defenses pay.
“I've got to look to score more,” he admitted. “The last few games, I've been getting offensive rebounds and going right to the kickout. Yeah, usually someone is open on the three-point line, but I'm definitely looking for more opportunities to score.”
That’s the next step-not just for Edey, but for the Grizzlies as a whole. A team that’s learning how to lean into its strengths, trust its identity, and let its rising star lead the way.
The turnaround is still fresh, but the signs are real. They’re playing harder.
They’re more connected. And most importantly, they’ve stopped accepting anything less than their best.
Memphis isn’t just climbing the standings-they’re reclaiming their culture. The version of this team that started the season sluggish and out of sync?
That team’s gone. What we’re seeing now is a group that’s all-in on effort, physicality, and belief.
A group that understands who they are-and who they refuse to be.
With Zach Edey ascending and the locker room fully bought in, the Grizzlies are writing a new chapter. And if this is how the story begins, the rest of the Western Conference better take notice.