WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Two players from Purdue's 2020 recruiting class are set to begin their 2024-25 NBA seasons this week.
Third-year pro Jaden Ivey and rookie Zach Edey will begin play this week for the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively. The Pistons will open play Wednesday night when it hosts the Indiana Pacers in Detroit. The Grizzlies will start their season a day later, traveling to the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.
Ivey, who was a 2022 All-American and the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 151 NBA games. He was a second-team All-Rookie Team selection during the 2022-23 season and has been a part of the NBA's Rising Stars Game in each of the first two seasons in Detroit. Ivey has surpassed 30 points seven times during his career, including a career-high 37 points on Feb. 7, 2024, vs. Sacramento.
Ivey averaged 15.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.8 APG and 0.8 SPG in just 21.2 minutes per game in the preseason, helping the Pistons to a 3-2 preseason record. He shot 27-of-44 (.614) from the field and 9-of-17 (.529) from 3-point range in the five games.
During Ivey's All-America season, he averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, helping Purdue to the Sweet 16 and a 29-8 overall record.
Edey, meanwhile, was the two-time National Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024 after leading Purdue to back-to-back Big Ten regular-season championships and an appearance in the 2024 National Championship game. Edey ended his Purdue career as the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder.
Third-year pro Jaden Ivey and rookie Zach Edey will begin play this week for the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively. The Pistons will open play Wednesday night when it hosts the Indiana Pacers in Detroit. The Grizzlies will start their season a day later, traveling to the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.
Ivey, who was a 2022 All-American and the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 151 NBA games. He was a second-team All-Rookie Team selection during the 2022-23 season and has been a part of the NBA's Rising Stars Game in each of the first two seasons in Detroit. Ivey has surpassed 30 points seven times during his career, including a career-high 37 points on Feb. 7, 2024, vs. Sacramento.
Ivey averaged 15.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.8 APG and 0.8 SPG in just 21.2 minutes per game in the preseason, helping the Pistons to a 3-2 preseason record. He shot 27-of-44 (.614) from the field and 9-of-17 (.529) from 3-point range in the five games.
During Ivey's All-America season, he averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, helping Purdue to the Sweet 16 and a 29-8 overall record.
Edey, meanwhile, was the two-time National Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024 after leading Purdue to back-to-back Big Ten regular-season championships and an appearance in the 2024 National Championship game. Edey ended his Purdue career as the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder.
Selected No. 9 by the Grizzlies, Edey averaged 12.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.0 BPG and 1.0 APG while shooting 22-of-44 (.500) from the field in just 19.6 minutes per game during the Grizzlies' five-game preseason.