Grizzlies React to Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells Announcement on Tuesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Audilet | Last updated May 20, 2025 3:49 PM ET

The Memphis Grizzlies featured two of the NBA's most impressive rookies throughout the 2024-25 season.

Two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey landed with the Grizzlies as the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft following his stellar collegiate career with the Purdue Boilermakers. The team then selected Washington State forward Jaylen Wells with their No. 39 overall pick in the second round.

Both of these rookies exceeded expectations in their debut campaigns.

Edey averaged 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, shooting 58.0% from the field. Wells averaged 10.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. shooting 42.5% from the field.

On Tuesday, both Edey and Wells were announced as members of the 2024-25 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

The Grizzlies took to social media to react to this major NBA announcement.

"Kia NBA All-Rookie First Team x2 Congrats to both @zach_edey & @jaylen_wells," the team wrote on X.

Kia NBA All-Rookie First Team x2

Congrats to both @zach_edey & @jaylen_wells pic.twitter.com/ddZdxkqxAM
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) May 20, 2025

"I've been fortunate enough to be recognized before in stuff like this, but I think one might mean a little more," Edey said in anticipation of the announcement. "A lot of people that get paid a lot of money that said a lot of things about me about how I was going to be in the NBA, what type of player, what type of future I was going to have. This isn't the end of the journey, but it's just step one in kind of showing them that I think a lot of people kind of overthought some things."

"I completed my goal," Wells added. "... It means the most for me and my family, knowing how much they sacrificed for me to get here and how much they believed in me."

Edey and Wells are joined on the All-Rookie First Team by Spurs guard Stephon Castle, Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher and Wizards forward Alex Sarr.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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