Zach Edey’s size is usually the headline on its own, but on October 24, 2026, the Memphis Grizzlies center was at the center of a more troubling moment against the Golden State Warriors. In the first quarter, Edey made a late swipe for the ball and hit Brandin Podziemski in the head on a drive to the basket, sending the Warriors guard to the locker room.
The play happened in a crowded NBA moment that had immediate impact. Podziemski had attacked the rim against the 7-foot-4 Edey, and the contact came on what was described as a fearless drive. Joe Viray noted that Podziemski’s cut and finish came after a denial by Jerome, but the sequence ended with Podziemski taking a whack to the face that officials did not clearly call.
What happened on the play
The key detail is simple: Edey hit Podziemski in the head during the first quarter, and Podziemski left for the locker room afterward. That is the immediate concern for Golden State, because any head contact that forces a rotation guard out of the game can change both the matchup and the flow of the night.
There was no verified update in the available information on whether Podziemski returned after going to the locker room, so that remains unknown here.
Why this matters for Memphis
The play also sits in a bigger Memphis context. The Grizzlies had already brought in Isaiah Stewart during the 2026 NBA Draft, trading future second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons to make him a quality backup for Edey. That move mattered because Memphis would probably like to keep Edey in limited stints while still maintaining a solid workload at center.
With Stewart already out injured, Memphis had less backup behind Edey. That does not change what happened on the court in this game, but it does explain why the Grizzlies’ frontcourt depth matters so much. If Edey is forced into heavier minutes, the margin for error becomes smaller, especially in games where physical play or foul trouble can quickly reshape the rotation.
For now, the main takeaway is the same on both sides: Podziemski’s status was the immediate concern after the first-quarter contact, while Memphis had to manage the game knowing it was already short on center depth behind Edey.
