Zach Edey is starting to look like the real deal in Memphis - and the Grizzlies are reaping the rewards. Since the towering 7’3” center made his season debut in mid-November, Memphis has flipped the script on what looked like a lost season. After stumbling to a 4-11 start, the Grizzlies have now won five of their last six, and Edey’s emergence on both ends of the floor is a big reason why.
Head coach Tuomas Iisalo didn’t mince words when asked about Edey’s impact: “Everything,” he said. “Great job overall by him and the whole team for realizing that’s where the advantage is.”
And it’s hard to argue. Edey is giving Memphis a new identity - one built around size, physicality, and inside dominance.
The former Purdue star had his breakout moment on Sunday in Sacramento, and it wasn’t subtle. Edey dropped 32 points, pulled down 17 boards, and swatted five shots - all in just 29 minutes.
He shot a ridiculous 16-of-20 from the floor (that’s 80%, folks), and the Grizzlies were +25 with him on the floor in an eight-point win over a solid Kings squad. That’s not just a good game - that’s a statement.
“I’ve just been really comfortable this year,” Edey said afterward. “I’ve been settling in, feeling like I’m back at Purdue a little bit - just comfortable.”
That comfort is showing up in the box score. Over the Grizzlies’ last three games - all wins - Edey is averaging 19.3 points, 17.0 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game, while shooting nearly 72% from the field.
He’s anchoring the defense, cleaning the glass, and giving Memphis a reliable interior scoring option. For a team that desperately needed a spark, Edey’s arrival has been perfectly timed.
And while Edey is earning the spotlight, there’s another subplot worth watching in Memphis: Ja Morant. The star guard, who’s been the subject of trade rumors this fall amid a rocky start and a one-game suspension, was locked in from the bench during Sunday’s win. According to those close to the team, Morant was vocal, engaged, and offering feedback to both teammates and coaches - a sign that he’s still invested, even as speculation swirls.
“It’s a huge advantage for us,” Iisalo said of Morant’s presence. “He’s asking stuff of me and giving some tips there for the guys. Overall, really good communication, really good leadership, both from him and also from Jaren [Jackson Jr.] and our veteran guys.”
For Memphis, that’s encouraging. The team’s early-season struggles raised questions about chemistry and direction. But with Edey emerging and Morant showing signs of re-engagement, the Grizzlies suddenly have some momentum - and a sense of identity.
Elsewhere in the Southwest Division, the Spurs continue to be cautious with their young stars. Victor Wembanyama (left calf strain) and Stephon Castle (left hip flexor strain) will both sit out Tuesday’s matchup against Memphis.
The good news? They’ve started on-court work, a sign that progress is being made.
However, neither player will travel to Orlando for the second leg of the back-to-back, and while there’s a possibility they could join the team later on its four-game road trip, there’s no guarantee they’ll suit up during that stretch.
Meanwhile, in New Orleans, Zion Williamson’s injury saga took another twist. Just two days before reports surfaced that he’d be sidelined for an extended stretch with a strained adductor, Williamson sounded optimistic about where his body was at.
“I haven’t felt like this since college, high school,” he said on Sunday. “I walk in the gym, and I feel good.”
That confidence took a hit with the latest update, but there’s still a sense that Zion is turning a corner - at least mentally.
Interim head coach James Borrego praised Williamson’s growth but emphasized the next step: leadership. “That’s one area of growth for him that he and I consistently talk about: it’s how to lead,” Borrego said.
“He’s obviously a talent. But the more he can lean into leadership and grow into his teammates, that’s where he wants to go.”
So while the Southwest Division has no shortage of injury concerns and roster questions, there’s also a clear theme emerging: young stars stepping into bigger roles - and in some cases, changing the direction of entire franchises. Whether it’s Edey powering a Memphis resurgence, Wemby inching closer to a return, or Zion looking to lead in more ways than one, the future is taking shape - and it’s starting to get interesting.