The Grizzlies crowd rose to a standing ovation as Jay Huff went to the bench with 5:35 remaining in the fourth quarter of the team's home opener against the Orlando Magic. The building was electric the entire night and the big men, including Huff, rose to the occasion the whole time.
The 7'1" four-year undrafted NBA journeyman from the University of Virginia has been a pleasant surprise for the Grizzlies in this early season as a prospect on a two-way contract. After scoring 13 points in the Grizzlies' season-opening victory over the Utah Jazz, Huff has continued to impress by following it with eight points against the Houston Rockets and a career-high of 18 points against the Orlando Magic.
Through three games this season, Huff has shot 63.6% from the field (14-22), 57% from three (8-14), and contributed five total blocks as a floor-spacing big man off the bench. Grizzlies' General Manager Zach Kleiman has made his career off of finding diamonds in the rough and it seems (albeit early sample size) that he has struck gold once again with Jay Huff.
After an impressive Summer League showing with the Orlando Magic, Jay Huff was quickly sought after by Zach Kleiman and now the Grizzlies are being rewarded for it. The return of Jaren Jackson Jr. to the lineup didn't kick Huff out of the big man rotation and that credit goes to his work ethic and flexibility to play multiple positions along with Santi Aldama.
The other 7'0" four-year big man who was drafted with the last pick of the first round in the 2021 draft by the Grizzlies has impressed at the beginning of a contract year. After not agreeing to an extension with the Grizzlies prior to the season, Aldama is looking for a payday as restricted free agency looms next summer and he has started the new season with a bang.
Santi has led the Grizzlies in scoring in two of their first three games, scoring 27 points in the season opener against the Jazz and 22 points against the Orlando Magic. He has shot 63% from the field (19-30), 52.9% from three (9-17), and has had no less than five rebounds through the team's first three games.
HOW DID THEY LET US GET JAY HUFF 🤯
— Grizz Lead (@Grizz_Lead) October 27, 2024
pic.twitter.com/kYXEVRcFcN
The combination of Santi Aldama and Jay Huff has been remarkable on the young season and with the early-season struggles of Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey, their impact has come at the perfect time. The two also have the reverse dunk package in common as Jay Huff had two of them in the Orlando Magic game and one of Santi Aldama's earlier memories of him as a Grizzly was one he had during his rookie year against the Phoenix Suns.
BENCH REACTION to the Santi Aldama dunk is 10/10. amazing. pic.twitter.com/FVoOgJbR7v
— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) April 2, 2022
The big man depth was a question for the team entering the season but the answer might have already been on the roster, the opportunity was just needed. Jay Huff and Santi Aldama have delivered to this point and that's something the team should be excited about in the early NBA season.
The Grizzlies signed Jay Huff to their final roster spot after an impressive start to the season on October 28th. He joins fellow teammate Scotty Pippen Jr. as a two-way guy to sign an active roster spot with the team this season.