The Memphis Grizzlies lost 95-97 against the Utah Jazz in the 2024 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League at the Salt Lake City Delta Center on the 9th (Korea Standard Time).
Several promising players played evenly in Memphis on the day. Rookie Jack Eadey, who entered the NBA through the 2024 draft, also played in the Memphis uniform for the first time.
Born to a Canadian father and a Chinese mother, Eddy is 224 centimeters tall and 240 centimeters tall, and has overwhelming physical conditions. He played an absolute role in leading Purdue University to the final in the crazy stage in March last season.
ED had 25.0 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.2 block shots on average in the NCAA stage, which bombed the opponents. However, the NBA stage received as good reviews as the impact he had in college.
The pros and cons were so clear.
Based on the overwhelming physical strength, it is said that the weight of the inside is certain, but the mobility is slow, so it will be blatantly hunted for matchups. There was a view that the fast transition did not fit the modern basketball trend, which is the main point.
Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas said, "I'm sure anyone who names Jack Eddy as a rotary pick will be fired within a few years. I'm sure the pick will slip."
However, Memphis boldly picked Eddy as its ninth pick. Although the draft was widely considered a poor harvest, Eddy's nomination was much faster than expected.
Eddy, who wore a Memphis uniform amid concerns, made an impressive performance in his first Summer League game. He achieved a double-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks, and made 7 of 11 field throws. 메이저놀이터
Even at the NBA level, ED's physical strength was threatening. ED's starting matchup opponent on the day was Walker Kessler, a tall prospect center who represented the U.S. at the FIBA World Cup last year. It was a formidable opponent, but Kessler seemed to feel too much pressure on ED.
E.D., who is 240 centimeters tall in Wingspan, put heavy pressure on opponents just by lifting up his arm. Although he was not fast in defense, he actively participated in transitions after successful defense, and successfully scored several times under the basket by hanging a solid screen or placing Kessler in front of him.
Baek Mi-mi came out right before the end of the fourth quarter. With 0.8 seconds left, the team two points behind shot a free throw. When his teammate intentionally missed a free throw, Eddy won the right to offer and hit a dramatic extra-time buzzer beater with a tap shot. His height and long arm stood out.
Although his team lost, ED's debut on the day was a success. If he can continue to show the same performance as he did on the day, his undervalued perspective toward him can be completely different.
Memphis traded Steven Adams during the last season, and its center strength to keep the ball under the basket has weakened. If Ed plays his part in the inside position, other players' shoulders will also be lighter.