Zach Edey enters the conversation with Shaq.
The Memphis Grizzlies rookie had 19 rebounds and 17 points Tuesday in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. In their previous game, Edey hauled in 21 rebounds along with 6 points and 6 assists in a win over the Detroit Pistons.
That makes Edey the first NBA rookie to post a two-game stretch with at least 40 rebounds since Shaquille O’Neal in 1993, according to StatMamba.
Edey has had quite a week. In four April games, he is averaging 16.7 rebounds, along with 8.0 points.
The 9th overall draft pick out of Purdue is averaging 9.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game, and he is 18-of-50 on 3-pointers. He has an outside shot of earning first-team All-Rookie honors.
Zach Edey tonight, one game after posting career highs 21 rebounds & 6 assists:
31 minutes
Game-high (+31)
17 points
19 rebounds
3 steals
1 blockpic.twitter.com/ERWNdVl2qm— Boiler Burner (@BoilerBurner1) April 9, 2025
The Memphis Grizzlies fired their head coach on March 28th.
Zach Edey so far in April (4 games):
41 points
69 rebounds
8 assists
7 blocks
3 stealspic.twitter.com/KfndFayOBV— Boiler Burner (@BoilerBurner1) April 9, 2025
Zach Edey is the first rookie to have 40+ REB over any two-game span since Shaq in 1993. pic.twitter.com/pj7tmpfAcX
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) April 9, 2025
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Zach Edey matches Shaquille O’Neal’s rebound feat from 32 years ago