Canadian Centre Zach Edey Drafted by Memphis Grizzlies in Historic NBA Draft

Canadian basketball talent, Zach Edey, hailing from Toronto, was recently chosen as the ninth overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in an NBA draft that made history.

Boasting impressive statistics, Edey’s stellar performance at Purdue University playing for the Boilermakers caught the attention of basketball enthusiasts worldwide.

The 22-year-old center’s achievements include winning the prestigious Naismith Award twice, a feat previously accomplished only by basketball legends Ralph Sampson and Bill Walton.

Additionally, in a separate selection, Ja’Kobe Walter, a guard from Baylor University, was picked 19th overall by the Toronto Raptors, adding to the Canadian representation in the NBA.

Shifting focus to the draft’s top selections, the Atlanta Hawks opted for Zaccharie Risacher from France as the first choice, marking consecutive years with international players as the top picks.

Risacher’s selection underlines the departure from the trend of American college players being the typical first picks, with France now making its mark at the forefront of the NBA Draft.

Joining Risacher in the early picks was Alex Sarr, another French player, who was selected second by the Washington Wizards following a standout performance in Australia‘s National Basketball League with Perth.

The draft also saw notable picks like Reed Sheppard from Kentucky, taken third overall by the Houston franchise, marking a shift in the draft trends from recent years.

With analysis from the Associated Press, this NBA draft signifies a turning point in player selections, showcasing the global talent pool that the league now embraces.