Latest news with #AllRookieFirstTeam
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"I needed something to calm me down" - Richard Dumas admits he used to drink a six pack of beers before every game
"I needed something to calm me down" - Richard Dumas admits he used to drink a six pack of beers before every game originally appeared on Basketball Network. Behind every player, there's a battle being fought, one that rarely makes its way to the public eye. The cameras capture the points, the dunks, the celebrations, but they don't even scratch the surface of what's going on when the lights are off. For some guys, the pressure of the NBA becomes fuel. For others, it's a weight they just can't fully shake. Richard Dumasfell into that second category, a player with undeniable talent whose career left everyone wondering what could have been. The former Phoenix Suns forward flashed star potential in his short time in the league, but behind the curtain there was a different story being written. And no matter how hard he tried to fight it, Dumas couldn't escape it. Dumas dealt with things that fans couldn't see Richard entered the NBA as a second-round pick in 1991, but his game quickly outshone his draft position. As a rookie in 1992-93, he averaged 15.8 points and 4.6 rebounds, earned a spot on the All-Rookie First Team and helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals. It was the kind of debut that had people penciling him in as a long-term piece for a contender. But the promise unraveled as quickly as it came together. Suspensions for substance abuse violations kept him off the floor, and what could have been a decade-long career turned into just three seasons in the league. The NBA only saw flashes, a 6'7" forward with a rare mix of athleticism, skill and fearlessness, but never the complete picture of what Dumas could have been. And as he would later explain, the struggle wasn't about the game itself. It was everything around it. "To me, I always took basketball the same way. I never got too excited or overwhelmed about it. Because if you prepare yourself, like I always did, you have the confidence to go out there and play. I wasn't nervous," Dumas said, reflecting on his short and turbulent time in the league. "It's just, the only thing about me is, as it has come up later on, I suffered from mental illness where I can't deal with crowds and stuff like that. They got me on medication now, but they didn't have medication and stuff back then. I couldn't deal with all that stuff," he continued. "A lot of people don't know I had a six pack before every game… I needed something to calm me down."Dumas couldn't keep up with all that the NBA brings The very things that define NBA basketball, the bright lights, the packed arenas, the noise of thousands of fans, those were the same things Dumas couldn't stomach. It wasn't about nerves or a lack of competitiveness. It was mental, and it was deeply personal. And in an era when mental health in sports wasn't part of the conversation, Dumas was left to cope however he could, turning to drugs and alcohol in an attempt to make the unbearable bearable. He tried to manage the chaos in the only ways available to him, leaning on alcohol before games and putting on a front of composure that masked the storm inside. It wasn't about embracing the moment or thriving under the spotlight — it was about surviving it, about simply finding a way to get through 48 minutes in an environment that felt impossible to handle. But those methods came at a cost. They only compounded his struggles, cutting short what could have been a remarkable career and leaving behind the lasting question of just how good the Oklahoma native might have been if those battles hadn't consumed him. Even though he might not be the first name people mention in the "what-if" category, he belongs in the conversation, somewhere after those whose careers were cut short by injuries. Because in a way, what Dumas was dealing with was an injury too, just one that nobody could see. Sometimes, those hurt even more than a sprained ankle or a sore muscle... and Dumas knows it all too story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Reuters
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Report: Grizzlies' Zach Edey cited for driving 101 mph in 55 zone
June 19 - Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey was cited for driving 101 mph in a 55-mph zone in Tippecanoe County, Ind., the Lafayette Journal & Courier reported Thursday. The violation occurred on May 1 while Edey was driving a Kia Sorento on Indiana 25, according to the report. Edey was cited and released at the scene, with a court hearing scheduled for Monday on a charge of misdemeanor reckless driving. Edey, 23, averaged 9.2 points with 8.3 rebounds in 66 games (55 starts) this past season when he was named NBA All-Rookie First Team. The 7-foot-4, 305 pounder was the No. 9 overall selection in last year's draft, after he was a two-time national college player of the year and a two-time first-team All-American. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Grizzlies Announce Zach Edey News on Tuesday
Grizzlies Announce Zach Edey News on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Memphis Grizzlies endured a frustrating season marred by injuries to key contributors, culminating in a first-round playoff exit to the Oklahoma City Thunder after star guard Ja Morant suffered a hip injury. Their postseason hopes ended quickly, and the team's depth was further tested early in the offseason. Advertisement Soon came more disappointing news from Memphis as ESPN's Shams Charania confirmed that rookie center Zach Edey suffered a recurring ankle injury last week during an offseason workout and will miss significant time next season. Edey, a 7-foot-4 center taken ninth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, had an up-and-down rookie year. Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) talks with center Zach Edey (14).© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images He averaged 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in just 21.5 minutes per game over 66 regular-season appearances, earning a spot on the All-Rookie First Team. While his injury comes as a huge blow, the Grizzlies confirmed via social media on Tuesday that, following imaging that revealed excessive ligament laxity, Edey underwent surgery to stabilize his left ankle. He is expected to be sidelined for four months, with the extent of his recovery to be evaluated following that period. While the surgery aims to provide long-term stability, Edey's absence at the start of the 2025‑26 season creates a significant void in Memphis's frontcourt rotation. With limited interior depth beyond Jaren Jackson Jr. and growing questions over long-term center solutions, Memphis may look to address the position before the season begins. Advertisement Despite early setbacks, the Grizzlies remain committed to Edey's development. His unique physical attributes and production as a rookie suggest a high ceiling once he fully recovers. The organization will monitor his rehabilitation closely over the coming months to determine whether he can return stronger and ready to contribute to the team's long-term ambitions. Related: Ja Morant's Gesture Toward LeBron James Turns Heads on Tuesday Related: Grizzlies Make Announcement After Major Zach Edey News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
07-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Grizzlies' Zach Edey to undergo ankle surgery, miss start of 2025-26 season: Source
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey re-sprained his left ankle in an offseason workout earlier this week and will have a procedure to 'address the laxity and re-stabilize his ankle,' the team said in a statement Saturday. Edey is scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday and is expected to miss the start of the 2025-26 season, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. Advertisement 'After consulting with the Grizzlies and multiple specialists, we decided this is the best approach for Zach long-term as it gets him back to 100 percent with no limitations,' Edey's agent, Mark Bartelstein, told The Athletic. Edey, the No. 9 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, suffered a left ankle sprain in July 2024 while playing in the NBA Summer League and missed five games. He sprained his left ankle again in November 2024 and was sidelined for the next 12 games of his rookie season. As a rookie, Edey started 55 of the 66 regular-season games he appeared in, averaging 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks en route to earning All-Rookie First Team honors. The 7-foot-4 center also started two games in the Play-In Tournament and another four in the first round of the playoffs, where Memphis was swept by the eventual Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Edey's absence for the start of next season puts the Grizzlies front office in a unique position. Reserve big Brandon Clarke, who missed the tail end of the season with a right PCL sprain, opted against surgery and should be fully healthy by the time the 2025-26 campaign rolls around. Outside of Clarke, sparingly used Jay Huff would be the only other true center on Memphis' roster. The free agent center market isn't exactly robust, but there are a few names that could help the Grizzlies in the interim, specifically Steven Adams, who played for Memphis between 2021 and 2023. Expect the Grizzlies to also consider options like Brook Lopez, Clint Capela and Kevon Looney, who could help immediately and be had at the non-taxpayer mid-level rate. Edey, the 2023 and 2024 National Player of the Year at Purdue, played in 138 of a possible 139 games during his four-year college career. His lone absence was due to a non-COVID illness in the 2022-23 season.
