When the Grizzlies' season ended, general manager Zach Kleiman emphasized bringing in players that fit the culture of the grit and grind nature the city of Memphis loves to rally behind. With the last pick of the 2025 NBA draft, Kleiman drafted arguably the best defensive player in the draft in former University of Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack.
Tony Allen is one of the most recognizable faces in the Grizzlies' franchise history, as he just had his jersey retired in March this year. It is no surprise that Mashack said that Allen was one of the key guys he had always watched since he was little when he was introduced at the team's rookie press conference.
Despite the collegiate rivalry between his alma mater, the University of Tennessee, and the college in the city where he was drafted, the University of Memphis, he has become a favorite within the Grizzlies fan base by showing flashes of being a defensive stopper. He has also shown flashes of an offensive game that was rarely showcased at Tennessee, which should undoubtedly secure him at least a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies this season.
Jahmai Mashack looks like a draft steal
The Grizzlies roster is maxed out at 15 players, but they have one two-way spot remaining after promoting last year's second-round pick, Cam Spencer, to the main roster. Outside of draft-and-stash players, the Grizzlies have either given a roster spot to their second-round draft picks or a two-way contract to them.
Entering the NBA summer league, Jahmai Mashack was expected to compete for a two-way spot as the team figured out its roster configuration. They signed fellow second-round pick Javon Small to a two-way contract on July 10th, but Mashack is waiting his turn for what appears to be a no-brainer by the organization.
In five summer league games, Mashack averaged 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks on 46.2% shooting from the field, including 41.7% shooting from three. That is about as stat-stuffing as it can get for a player that has drawn comparisons to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort.
Also, Mashack mentioned at his opening press conference that his underrated skill is being a three-point shooter, and he showed glimpses of that with his 41.7% hit rate from three on 12 total attempts. This followed a college career where he was primarily used as a defensive stopper, only averaging 1.0 attempt per game from three in his four-year college career.
The Grizzlies fans have already gravitated to Mashack, with some even suggesting that he should get minutes on the main squad. His value has shown in the summer league as the type of player Zach Kleiman wanted the team to have more of, so the announcement of him signing a two-way contract with the team should be announced any day.