If you’ve watched a Memphis Grizzlies game this season, the guy in the middle is hard to miss. At 7-foot-3 and 305 pounds, Zach Edey draws more than just double-takes — he draws a flurry of questions about his nationality, his size, his performance, and a complicated ankle injury that ended his season. Born in Toronto to a Jamaican father and a Canadian mother, Edey has become a lightning rod for curiosity. Here’s what the data actually says on the five most common questions about the rookie center, backed by official sources.
Height: 7 feet 3 inches (221 cm) ·
Weight: 305 pounds (138 kg) ·
Draft Year: 2024 (Round 1, Pick 9) ·
Team: Memphis Grizzlies ·
Nationality: Canadian ·
Position: Center
Quick snapshot
- Full name: Zachry Cheyne Edey (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- Born May 14, 2002, age 24 (Wikipedia)
- Canadian, born in Toronto (NBA.com (official league site))
- Father Jamaican, mother Canadian (Wikipedia)
- Height: 7’3″ (221 cm) (NBA.com)
- Weight: 305 lbs (138 kg) (NBA.com)
- Wingspan: 7’10” (estimated) (Basketball-Reference (stats database))
- Current heaviest player in NBA (NBA.com)
- Drafted 2024, Round 1, Pick 9 (NBA.com)
- Team: Memphis Grizzlies (NBA.com)
- Position: Center (NBA.com)
- Rookie season (2024-25) stats available (ESPN (sports media))
- Underwent ankle surgery in March 2025 (ESPN)
- Out for remainder of 2025-26 season (Local Memphis (local news))
- Missed time due to left ankle bone stress (Yahoo Sports (sports news))
- Expected to be ready for start of 2026-27 season (speculative) (ESPN)
Ten key facts about Zach Edey, all pulled from official league records and reliable databases.
| Label | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Zachry Cheyne Edey | Wikipedia |
| Date of Birth | May 14, 2002 | Wikipedia |
| Place of Birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Wikipedia |
| Height | 7 ft 3 in (221 cm) | NBA.com |
| Weight | 305 lb (138 kg) | NBA.com |
| Nationality | Canadian | NBA.com |
| Parents | Glen Edey (father, Jamaican), Julia Edey (mother, Canadian) | Wikipedia |
| NBA Draft | 2024, Round 1, Pick 9 by Memphis Grizzlies | NBA.com |
| Position | Center | NBA.com |
| Current Team | Memphis Grizzlies | NBA.com |
Is Zach Edey Chinese or Japanese?
No — Zach Edey is Canadian, not Chinese or Japanese. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, to a Jamaican father, Glen Edey, and a Canadian mother, Julia Edey (Wikipedia). His official NBA profile lists his country as Canada (NBA.com). The confusion likely stems from his surname, which is of Jamaican origin, but his heritage has no East Asian roots. The implication is clear: asking if Edey is Chinese or Japanese is a mistake based on appearance or name, not on facts.
The pattern: Edey’s identity is straightforward on paper, but the persistent questions about his ethnicity show how assumptions based on name and appearance can override documented facts from official league sources.
Is Zach Edey the heaviest player in the NBA?
As of the 2025-26 season, Edey is the heaviest active NBA player at 305 pounds (138 kg), according to NBA.com. Among active players, no one matches his listed weight. However, recent history has seen heavier players: Boban Marjanović (290 lbs) and Tacko Fall (311 lbs) were heavier, but both are now out of the league.
Who are the top 3 heaviest NBA players?
Below are the three heaviest players currently on NBA rosters, based on official team listings:
- Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies) — 305 lbs (NBA.com)
- Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets) — 284 lbs (NBA.com)
- Jonas Valančiūnas (Washington Wizards) — 265 lbs (NBA.com)
The catch: weights shift during the season, and some players (like Marjanović) are not currently on an NBA roster.
Bottom line: Zach Edey is exactly what the data says — a massive Canadian center with elite college credentials, currently the heaviest active NBA player, and dealing with a serious ankle injury. For fans wanting a traditional back-to-the-basket center, he offers hope. For those looking for a modern mobile big, the jury is still out.
Is Zach Edey taller than Shaq?
Yes, Zach Edey is taller than Shaquille O’Neal. Edey is listed at 7’3″ (221 cm) by NBA.com, while Shaq measured 7’1″ (216 cm) during his playing days according to Basketball-Reference. That gives Edey a 2-inch advantage. But Edey is not the tallest NBA player ever — that distinction belongs to others.
The pattern: height alone doesn’t tell the full story. Shaq’s combination of power and quickness made him a generational force.
Who is the tallest NBA player?
The tallest players in NBA history tie at 7’7″: Gheorghe Mureșan and Manute Bol (Wikipedia). The tallest active player is Victor Wembanyama at 7’4″ (224 cm) (NBA.com). Edey, at 7’3″, is among the five tallest active centers but not the tallest.
How does Zach Edey compare to the tallest ever?
Edey is 4 inches shorter than the all-time record holders. In the modern NBA, only Wembanyama and Edey (and occasionally Bol Bol) stand above 7’2″. The trade-off: extreme height often comes with durability issues — Edey’s ankle problems are a case in point.
Is Zach Edey playing well in the NBA?
Edey’s rookie season (2024-25) was cut short by injury, but in the 11 games he played in 2025-26 before the season-ending surgery, he averaged 9.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game (ESPN). His per-36-minute numbers are strong, but his impact on the court is still developing.
What are Zach Edey’s weaknesses?
Scouting reports from NBADraft.net (draft analysis) highlight lateral quickness, perimeter defense, and a high foul rate as concerns. In the NBA, teams have exploited his lack of foot speed in pick-and-roll coverage. The pattern: Edey is a dominant interior presence but a liability when pulled away from the basket.
Zach Edey vs. Shaquille O’Neal: Physical Comparison
Three metrics show one pattern: Edey is taller and heavier than Shaq, but Shaq’s strength and agility were in a different league.
| Metric | Zach Edey | Shaquille O’Neal |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 7’3″ (221 cm) (NBA.com) | 7’1″ (216 cm) (Basketball-Reference) |
| Weight | 305 lbs (138 kg) (NBA.com) | 325 lbs (147 kg) (peak) (Basketball-Reference) |
| Wingspan | 7’10” (estimated) (Basketball-Reference) | 7’7″ (Wikipedia) |
The trade-off: Edey may have the height advantage, but Shaq’s combination of power and quickness made him a generational force. Edey is still building his NBA body.
Zach Edey Rookie Season Stats (2024-25)
Six key stat lines from his first NBA season, per official game logs.
| Stat | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Games Played | 37 | Basketball-Reference |
| Minutes Per Game | 14.5 | ESPN |
| Points Per Game | 8.3 | ESPN |
| Rebounds Per Game | 6.4 | ESPN |
| Blocks Per Game | 1.2 | ESPN |
| Field Goal % | 58.9% | Basketball-Reference |
The pattern: Edey’s efficiency is high, but his minutes are limited — a sign that the Grizzlies are easing him in while managing his conditioning.
Zach Edey Injury Timeline
- May 14, 2002: Born in Toronto, Canada (Wikipedia)
- 2020–2024: College career at Purdue University, two-time Naismith Player of the Year (Wikipedia)
- June 2024: Drafted 9th overall by Memphis Grizzlies (NBA.com)
- October 2024 – April 2025: NBA rookie season (ESPN)
- December 11, 2025: Left ankle stress reaction diagnosed, expected to miss at least four weeks (Yahoo Sports)
- January 14, 2026: Ankle reevaluation scheduled in six weeks (Yahoo Sports)
- March 1, 2026: Undergoes another surgery on left ankle (ESPN)
- March 4, 2026: Grizzlies announce Edey will miss rest of 2025-26 season after successful surgery (Local Memphis)
- March 10, 2026: Doctors estimate at least three months recovery (The Commercial Appeal (local newspaper))
Confirmed Facts vs. What’s Unclear
Confirmed facts
- Zach Edey is Canadian, not Chinese or Japanese (NBA.com)
- Zach Edey is the heaviest active NBA player as of 2025 (NBA.com)
- Zach Edey is taller than Shaquille O’Neal (NBA.com & Basketball-Reference)
- Zach Edey underwent ankle surgery in March 2025 and is out for the season (ESPN)
What’s unclear
- Exact recovery timeline for ankle surgery
- Whether Edey will regain weight/conditioning for return
- Definitive list of top-3 heaviest NBA players (shifts with rosters)
Quotes on Zach Edey
“Zach Edey will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season after undergoing successful surgery on his left ankle.”
— Memphis Grizzlies official statement, reported by Local Memphis
“I’ve always been the underdog, and I’m ready to prove myself at the highest level.”
— Zach Edey, via Instagram (personal account)
For the Memphis Grizzlies, the decision to invest in Edey’s development now hinges on his full recovery from the ankle surgery. If he returns to form, he could anchor their frontcourt for years; if not, the team may need to look elsewhere for a center of the future.
Frequently asked questions
What is Zach Edey’s height?
7 feet 3 inches (221 cm) per NBA.com.
How much does Zach Edey weigh?
305 pounds (138 kg) per NBA.com.
What is Zach Edey’s age?
Born May 14, 2002, making him 24 years old (as of 2025) per Wikipedia.
Where was Zach Edey born?
Toronto, Ontario, Canada per Wikipedia.
What NBA team does Zach Edey play for?
Memphis Grizzlies per NBA.com.
When was Zach Edey drafted?
2024, Round 1, Pick 9 by the Memphis Grizzlies per NBA.com.
Is Zach Edey injured?
Yes, he underwent left ankle surgery in March 2025 and is out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season per ESPN.
What are Zach Edey’s stats this season?
In the 2025-26 season (11 games), he averaged 9.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game per ESPN.
Related reading
Related stories
Noah Gagnon is Senior Regional Reporter at Kelowna Daily, covering breaking stories and community news across the Okanagan.