Zach Edey
A 7-foot-4 Canadian force who redefined college basketball dominance with back-to-back Player of the Year honors before taking his game to the NBA.
Born 2002 (age 24)·Canadian basketball player·Birthday: May 14·Generation Z
Biography
Zach Edey's journey from a relatively late starter in basketball to a national phenomenon is a story of staggering growth, both physical and skill-based. Born in Toronto, he focused more on baseball and hockey in his youth, only seriously pursuing basketball in high school. His recruitment to Purdue University unlocked a behemoth in the paint, a player whose sheer size was matched by a rapidly developing footwork and touch. At Purdue, he didn't just play; he commanded, carrying the Boilermakers to the 2024 NCAA championship game with a blend of power and precision that made him nearly unstoppable. Winning consecutive National Player of the Year awards—a feat not accomplished in decades—cemented his legacy as one of college basketball's most dominant figures. Now with the Memphis Grizzlies, he aims to prove that his old-school, post-centric game can thrive in the modern NBA.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Zach was born in 2002, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Zach Was Born
The biggest hits of 2002
#1 Movie
Spider-Man
Best Picture
Chicago
#1 TV Show
Friends
Zach's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2002Born
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2007Started school
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2015Became a teenager
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Could drive
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2020Could vote
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2023Turned 21
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 24 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the consensus National Player of the Year award in both 2023 and 2024, a rare repeat achievement.
- Led the Purdue Boilermakers to the NCAA Division I championship game in 2024 as the team's undisputed centerpiece.
- Selected in the first round (9th overall) by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2024 NBA draft.
- Named the Big Ten Player of the Year for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
Did You Know?
He played baseball as a pitcher and first baseman and was a competitive hockey goalie before focusing on basketball.
His mother, Julia, is a former professional basketball player who competed for Canada's national team.
He grew seven inches after his sophomore year of high school, accelerating his basketball prospects.
“You can't teach height, but you can teach someone how to use it.”
