Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) shoots the ball Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

LOOK: Zach Edey Stops By Purdue Basketball Practice

Originally posted on Purdue Boilermakers on SI
By Dustin Schutte | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 2:50 PM ET

Zach Edey decided to return to his old stomping grounds this week. The two-time National Player of the Year made his way back to Cardinal Court at Purdue to be around the players and staff.

Edey posted an photo to his Instagram of Purdue's practice facility while guys went through practice. The men's basketball team also posted pictures of the 7-foot-4 NBA star chatting with coaches Matt Painter and Brandon Brantley.

Big Man U. pic.twitter.com/affZvQtXRC
— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) July 16, 2025

It's the perfect example of "Once a Boiler, always a Boiler."

Edey made a return to West Lafayette shortly after undergoing ankle surgery this summer. Because of the injury, Edey is currently wearing a walking boot and will likely miss a portion of the 2025-26 NBA season with the Memphis Grizzlies.

"There's no exact timeline right now. I'm just doing all the rehabbing right now, and working hard at it,'' Edey told Purdue Boilermakers on SI in Las Vegas. "It had to be done. I really needed it. That ankle has been giving me trouble for quite a while now, so I'm really optimistic that it'll be a lot stronger once I'm back to full-go.''

Zach Edey on IG pic.twitter.com/FDSE5RBYre
— Dustin Schutte (@SchutteDustin) July 15, 2025

Edey completed his first NBA season averaging 9.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He earned first-team NBA All-Rookie honors at the end of the year. The Grizzlies finished the regular season with a 48-34 record and earned the No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs after advancing from the Play-In Tournament.

Memphis selected Edey with the No. 9 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after a stellar career at Purdue.

This article first appeared on Purdue Boilermakers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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