There will be no Olympics for Zach Edey this summer. The center drafted by Memphis was part of a very expanded Canadian pre-selection for Paris 2024. However, he announced Sunday evening that he was retiring in order to focus on his first season in the Major League.
However, the former Purdue pivot was already present last summer in Jordi Fernandez's squad during the 2023 World Cup. Apart from his 16 minutes (12 points on 6/6 on shots and 4 rebounds) against Lebanon , he nevertheless played very little during Canada's good run at the World Cup, with a bronze medal to boot.
“I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the process to compete for a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Canada.”, explains the pivot, in a press release. “Since last summer, I have been training and constantly fighting to win the championship at Purdue and make it to the NBA. I now have a duty to properly prepare myself for whatever awaits me, being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies. The work to be done this summer on my body and on my game is essential for me to become the best version of myself. »
Experience to fill his departure
This is the second defection for Canada. Before him, Andrew Wiggins withdrew at the end of last week. However, it is without hard feelings that Canada Basketball records its second withdrawal.
“While we had hoped to have Zach (Edey) join us at training camp, we understand and support him in this difficult decision,” says Rowan Barrett, the Federation's GM. “We look forward to welcoming him to a future training camp and wish him the best as he prepares for next season.” »
Canada will still be able to count on a few soldiers in the interior sector like Trey Lyles who can alternate at position 4 and 5, Kelly Olynyk, Dwight Powell or former Raptors player, Khem Birch.
