On five different occasions during January 15, 2025’s Southwest Division showdown, Zach Edey found himself in the paint’s heart, dangerously straddling a line between hard-earned buckets and appearances on Victor Wembanyama’s early-season Defensive Player of the Year-caliber reel. Some battles were won, and others were lost; after the smoke had settled, though, the Memphis Grizzlies’ No. 9 pick could look back fondly on one particular play in the game’s opening three minutes. Drawing the eye of his fearless floor general after two San Antonio Spurs defenders bite on a reverse pivot, Edey ends up in a three-player hunt for a ricocheted ball, ultimately winning it with the rim just one glance upward. Bumped into just the angle needed to ponder taking flight, Edey conquers 2023-24’s All-Defensive First Teamer on this occasion, bending the rim with a powerful two-hander. Among many contributing to Memphis’ 129-point, victorious effort, Edey survived the hefty task, contributing an efficient six-point, five-rebound, one-steal outing. · Jan 16, 2025