Purdue’s Zach Edey Makes Surprising NBA Draft Decision

The NBA Draft is coming up quickly, June 26 and 27, and all eyes are on a certain Purdue superstar. Now, that guy, Zach Edey, has made a surprising NBA Draft decision.

The first round of the NBA Draft 2024 on June 26 will air on ABC and ESPN live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The second round on June 27 will air on ESPN and the ESPN App from ESPN's Seaport District Studios in New York. I think it's going to be an exciting draft, especially for college hoops fans who have been watching Purdue's Zach Edey for several years. Edey has been moving up in NBA mock drafts as of late, which is a good sign that he might get selected earlier than originally expected. Some experts are speculating that he might end up with the Miami Heat. According to ESPN's Jonathan Givoney (via Allucanheat.com), Edey is "in the conversation" to join the Miami Heat at the 15th pick. There is also some buzz from NBA experts about Edey possibly being picked up by the New York Knicks, which would be huge, since the Knicks have been on a run lately. As Yahoo! Sports notes, "If the Knicks are looking for a high-risk, high-reward swing, who better than the most decorated player of this draft class." They add, "Edey stands 7-foot-4 and 300 pounds with a soft touch to go along with his historically imposing frame." Still CBSSports.com could see the Los Angeles Lakers picking up Edey, as they note, "Edey is arguably the most polarizing player in this class because of how varied his draft range is." They add, "Edey could serve as the Lakers' backup center to Anthony Davis or play next to him while holding down the paint." Not a bad idea. Libertyballers.com even suggests that the Philadelphia 76ers could pick Edey as a backup to the great Joel Embiid.

So, what's the big decision that Edey has made regarding the NBA Draft? Recently, the NBA handed out invitations to top players to be at the NBA Draft in the green room. But, Edey declined and will be staying at home to watch the draft with his family and friends, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN. "NEWS: Purdue center Zach Edey was being invited to attend the NBA Draft, a source told ESPN, but has elected to decline and watch the draft with his teammates, coaches and family at Purdue instead," Givony writes. What a great family man. As someone who covers the Big Ten Conference, I'm excited to see where Edey lands.

The NBA playoffs are in full swing, and it's been one of the most exciting playoffs in recent years. Many of the top NBA superstars today are in the playoffs, while others are watching, following some upset losses. Either way, there's no denying that the NBA has a ton of talent right now. So many of the games have come down to the wire, which makes for some pretty incredible, and stressful, endings. So, who are the top NBA superstars of the minute?

Before we get into the top NBA superstars today, let's do some NBA history and look at the top players of all time. There's a reason they call LeBron James the GOAT. He's the best ever, according to the raw statistics and numbers via NBA.com. James knows how to really handle the pressure and fame.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, James went into detail about his fame and how it has impacted his life, both personal and professional. "I don't want to say it ever becomes too much, but there are times when I wish I could do normal things," he said. "I wish I could go to Target sometimes and walk into Starbucks and have my name on the cup just like regular people." He obviously can't do that without everyone rushing to meet the greatest basketball player of all time. NBA experts know that when you have a superstar as big as James, he never plays an away game. No matter what city he's in, people will go to that game just to see him. I have yet to see the GOAT in action, so I hope he returns next year, so I can catch him live.

No. 2 on the list of the greatest NBA players of all time, according to the NBA's stats, is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He played until he was 42 in an era where that was even more rare than it is today. So, how did he avoid burning out? Speaking with the Harvard Business Review, Abdul-Jabbar said, "I just thought that I had the greatest job in the world, and I wanted to keep it as long as I could. I knew it wouldn't last forever." He also noted that in one of his books, he quoted Jackie Robinson saying, "Athletes die twice," because when you're no longer playing professional sports, it's a kind of a death. That's deep.

Now, let's get into the top NBA superstars today.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's stats currently have him at No. 4 in the NBA, according to NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate. He's a great driver and fantastic defender. That's a dangerous combination. He's one of the hottest players of the season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is sitting at a Player Impact Estimate of No. 3 in the league via NBA.com. Sadly, before the playoffs began, Antetokounmpo suffered a calf injury, so he was unable to participate. Now, the Bucks are out.

Some might say that putting LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers this far up on the list is a bit surprising. Overall, as I mentioned above, he's the all-time greatest player in the NBA. However, he's currently No. 5 in the NBA right now, according to NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate. He's the GOAT, so I have to put him at No. 3.

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is an absolute beast on the court. That doesn't always mean his always team wins, but he's always out there, giving it his all. Doncic is ranked the No. 2 NBA player right now, via the NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate.

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, "the Joker," is one of the greatest centers of all time. He's ranked No. 1 in the NBA, according to NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate. He has gotten some raised eyebrows lately, due to some weak Nuggets games in the playoffs. But, there's no denying this MVP is the best right now.