Zach Edey's Parents Called Him 'Little Buddha' as a Child and Never Pushed Him to Play Basketball

Zach Edey's parents were happy watching their son flourish from the sidelines. They allowed him to develop as an individual and not rely entirely on their approval. Although he initially refused to play basketball, his choice to play led to a full-circle moment with his mom.

Purdue Boilermaker center Zach Edey drew his first breath in Toronto, Canada, on May 14, 2002. He was born to Julia Edey and Glen Edey and inherited a bi-ethnic identity from the couple; his mom is a first-generation Chinese immigrant, and his dad is white.

Glen Edey and Julia Edey have been integral to the basketball player's support system throughout childhood. They stood by their son when people made fun of his appearance and as he tried his hand at different sports.

Zach Edey's Parents: His Mother Worked In Her Family's Local Restaurant, and His Dad Pumped Gas

Zach's parents became accustomed to hard work from a young age. As a teen, his father worked at a gas station to earn money. Similarly, his mom worked at her family's restaurant, helping her dad and uncle on weekends.

Julia also made time for playing basketball and grew passionate about the sport in high school. She hoped to pursue it professionally, but circumstances forced her to put that dream aside. Instead, she became a mechanical engineer.

Zach Edey Parents Nicknamed Him after His Chubbiness

In a March 2023 interview, Zach's mother revealed the player weighed 11 pounds and three ounces when he was born. He got bigger as he grew older, earning the nickname "Little Buddha" from his parents, as he recalled:

"When I was a little kid, I was so fat my parents called me Little Buddha."

Julia said he was an "outlier." Zach grew out of "Little Buddha" status, taking his mother's height genes to another level. With Julia standing at 6'3", Zach is 7'4" tall. As a kid, he loved the idea of being of towering height.

Unfortunately, it made him a target for bullying and unfair blame in school. He was 6' feet tall by age 11. Julia would walk close to him in public as a form of reassurance. Eventually, Zach reached an age where he no longer needed it.

Zach Edey's Parents Never Forced Him into Basketball

Zach grew up in a suburb where most children began playing hockey at around five. He started playing when he was six, and at eight, he was competing in youth leagues. He also played baseball, a sport his dad participated in growing up.

Although Zach enjoyed hockey and baseball, he was most encouraged to play basketball but refused. His mom understood why, as she said, "He needs to be challenged. I think that's why he didn't love basketball when he first played."

Zach Edey Joined Basketball So His Mom Could Retire Early

Zach focused solely on basketball from 14 years onwards. Two years before, he had told Julia that he wanted to get a scholarship to allow her to retire early, and he did. Julia initially hesitated to let her son take that responsibility but eventually budged.

"It meant a lot to him getting that scholarship, knowing that he could help give me those options, and it meant a lot to me. I was thinking, I'm not missing a second of this," she reflected.

She is now retired and fully part of a dream that used to be her own. Julia is one of many basketball star's parents with a sports background, including Stephen Curry's, Max Christie's, Klay Thompson's, Jordan Poole's, and Paolo Banchero's parents.