MEMPHIS (USA) - Imagine 2.24M (7'4") center Zach Edey with Canada at the next World Cup. Maybe he could serve as the bodyguard for Gilgeous-Alexander, or he could control the paint.
Canada have offensive juggernauts in Gilgeous Alexander and Barrett, and other solid all-round talents like Lu Dort, workhorse center Dwight Powell, shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dillon Brooks and Kelly Olynyk, just to name seven. Add an Edey that has some NBA experience under his belt and Canada could and probably will get better.
Not two days ago, in only the 8th game of his NBA career as a rookie, Edey posted an impressively efficient game with 25 points on 11-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks in the Grizzlies' narrow loss to Brooklyn. Witnessing this so early in his NBA career makes you wonder what the Canadian basketball team could achieve with such an addition to the roster.
It was never going to be easy for Canada to reach the podium at this summer's Olympics in France. There were several teams deemed capable of claiming a medal.
Yet there were signs it could happen.
The Third-Place Game triumph over the USA at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and the obvious talent in the Canada team raised expectations.
Canada's strong performances at the start of the Olympics made it look like the Reds, at the Summer Games for the first time since FIBA Hall of Famer Steve Nash was the national team point guard in 2000, had a real chance.
Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett, the Canadians defeated really good teams in Greece, Australia and Spain to set up a Quarter-Final against a France squad that had only narrowly avoided defeat to Japan.
Yet France did to Canada what Canada had done to France at the World Cup one year before when they squared off in Jakarta. The French whipped 'em in Paris!
Les Bleus, boasting a clear advantage in size, particularly with 2.24M (7'4") Victor Wembanyama but also with the combative 2.06M (6'9") Mathias Lessort and 2.04M (6'8") Guerschon Yabusele, rolled to a 82-73 win. France also had the 2.16M (7'1") Rudy Gobert although the veteran played less than four minutes in their Olympic clash.
Next time Canada faces France, they might consider getting bigger. This would give them another solid option and would allow them to avoid relying exclusively on small-ball tactics.
Edey was a two-time NCAA Player of the year at Purdue. At the 2024 NCAA Final Four, he led the Boilermakers past North Carolina State and into the Final, where they were upended by UConn.
It was nevertheless a great experience, and it helped Edey become the ninth pick in the NBA Draft by Memphis.
Edey's run with Canada at the 2023 World Cup had also helped him.
He gained very important experience by practicing with teammates that are on NBA teams. He also made five appearances and did well in his limited minutes.
Edey is growing in confidence. He had a solid pre-season with Memphis and already hitting the ground running after making his debut in the opening day game.
With the Grizzlies, he's not just eating up a lot of space in the lane and boxing out opponents but also proving to be a threat on offense.
On defense, Edey swats shots, or alters them.
Edey's coach in Memphis, Taylor Jenkins, sees a lot of potential in Edey. He even envisions his big man shooting 3-pointers.
"I'm going to challenge him to continue to grow versatility," he said earlier this month in remarks published by Yahoo, " on the outside being able to shoot the 3-ball, being able to defend on the perimeter, too.
"I think this guy is fully capable of it. It is going to take time as he adapts to the physicality and the speed, the game strategies and tendencies of the league."
Canada will be keeping an eye on his development.
FIBA