Zach Edey Announces Significant Decision Before 2024 Paris Olympics

Zach Edey will not participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics with Team Canada.

The former Purdue superstar and 2024 NBA Draft lottery pick announced his decision to withdraw from the team on Sunday.

Edey will instead focus on preparing for his NBA rookie season with the Memphis Grizzlies.

"I have made the difficult decision of pulling myself out of the process to compete for a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Canada,” Edey said in his joint statement with Team Canada. “Since last summer, I have been training and competing nonstop to achieve my goals of winning a national championship at Purdue and making it to the NBA. I have a duty now to properly prepare for all that is coming my way with being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies. The work I put in this summer on my and and my game is critical for me to be the best version of myself.”

Following his back-to-back National Player of the Year awards at Purdue, the Grizzlies selected Edey with the No. 9 overall pick in this year's draft. The 7-foot-4 center will look to translate his success from the college game to the next level.

While Edey won't participate in this year's Olympics, the Canada native said it still "remains a lifelong dream" to represent his country on the court.

“We look forward to welcoming him to a future training camp and wish him the best of luck preparing for next season” Team Canada general manager Rowan Barrett said in the statement.

Team Canada will be headlined by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray.