Zach Edei in Shaq territory with a monster game against the Kings
Under the Sunday night lights, The Memphis Grizzlies needed someone to take overand Zach Edei answered the moment with authority. The The Grizzlies defeated the Kings 115–107 as the young center put on a phenomenal performance which put him next to Shaquille O’Neal in the history books. Eddie defeated the Kings with 32 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks and a scorching 80% shooting. According to Mark Stein of The Stein Line, he became the youngest player since Shaquille O’Neal hit that line — an astonishing feat for a 23-year-old who barely made it in the league.
From the opening tip, the game shifted around him. The Kings tried bodies, schemes and pace, but nothing slowed his touch around the rim or his timing on the defensive end. Every soft hook was intentional. Each block felt like a message. The Grizzlies fed him confidence, and he rewarded them with simplicity and dominance under the hostile noise of the territory.
Grizzlies Rise that looks built to last
With the Grizzlies now on three straight and the Kings sliding to a third straight loss, the night belonged to Zach Eddy. From there his presence solidified every possession. Suddenly, the offense ran cleaner. Meanwhile, the defense tightened. And more importantly, his rebounds are sealing moments that usually slip away in close games. Fans could hear the change every time the ball hit his hands.
As for the Shaquille O’Neal comparison, he falls hard for it the roots. On November 20, 1993, the 21-year-old O’Neal had 24 points, 15 blocks and 28 rebounds in the Orlando Magic’s win over the then-New Jersey Nets. Decades later, that play still lives on in NBA folklore. Edey didn’t chase that record, but he reached the same rare territory with his style and pace.
So now Grizzlies fans can’t help but wonder: If Zach Edei is already touching this level, what happens when the games and pressure get even bigger?
2025-12-01 16:06:00
