Part of why the Memphis Grizzles have been successful the season has been the play of their rookies. While the 2025 rookie class hasn’t been the most impressive, the Grizzlies have seen fantastic production from their two rookies, Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey.
Wells and Edey have contributed to the Grizzlies playing as well as they have following a very disappointing season last year — and their play has not gone unnoticed around the NBA.
Memphis Grizzlies Rookies Show High Up on NBA’s Rookie Ladder
With the 2024-25 season winding down, award races are heating up. Among those races is the Rookie of the Year, and Wells and Edey rank high up compared to their peers.
The NBA released its latest rookie ladder on March 5 via its X account. Wells ranked second among rookies, while Edey ranked third.
Stephon Castle and Jaylen Wells firmly at the top as we head into March 👀
Read @AschNBA's full NBA App Kia Rookie Ladder below!
📰: https://t.co/CovAplwbpE pic.twitter.com/n4qfJWnCmF
— NBA (@NBA) March 5, 2025
Edey was the Grizzlies’ prized lottery pick after the Grizzlies suffered through an awful season, taking him at No. 9 overall. He hasn’t necessarily dominated, but Memphis hasn’t asked him to, and he’s held up his end.
Edey is averaging 9.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks a game while shooting 9.3% from the field.
Wells has been the bigger surprise for Memphis, seeing as he was a second-round pick. He is averaging 11.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.6 steals while shooting 45% from the field and 38% from 3.
The Grizzlies signaled their faith in Wells when they traded Marcus Smart at the deadline, so the former could fill the role full-time.
Wells and Edey’s productivity as rookies on one of the best teams in the Western Conference makes a good case for their elevation to the Rookie of the Year race, particularly during a season in which no one has really stood out all that much.
Because this rookie class hasn’t been as good as others, the Grizzlies have the rare opportunity to have their two candidates finish among the top two in the race for Rookie of the Year.
The last time the Grizzlies had an adequate chance at that was in 2002, when Pau Gasol and Shane Battier were among the best rookies in their class. Both made the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team, though Gasol was the only one who received votes for the Rookie of the Year award, to which he ran away with.
Wells and Edey potentially finishing the race at No. 1 and No. 2, no matter who gets what placement, is a very encouraging sign for Memphis’ future.
