Memphis Grizzlies center Jay Huff has been lighting it up off the bench this season.
Averaging eleven points a night, the Virginia big man secured a four-year contract with the Grizzlies, finding him a real home in the league.
But the question has to be asked— who is Jay Huff?
Who Is Jay Huff?
After spending four years at Virginia, Huff declared for the 2021 NBA Draft. After going undrafted, he signed with the Washington Wizards on September 21. Huff was cut on October 13, less than a month later.
Five days later, the Los Angeles Lakers signed Huff to a two-way contract. Huff played four games for the Lakers, averaging zero points throughout the four games. The Lakers waived him on January 12, 2022. Four days later, he was back on the South Bay Lakers, the Lakers G League affiliate.
Huff played with South Bay for another year, until he signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards on March 2, 2023. Huff averaged fifteen points throughout the season and tallied three blocks a night, getting him All-NBA G League First Team, First Defensive Team, and DPOY honors.
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During his time in Washington, Huff started to make a name for himself. Over a three-game span from April 4-7, 2023, Huff averaged 14.7 points a night. However, it was not good enough to secure himself a real contract.
After his stint in Washington, Huff joined the Houston Rockets Summer League roster. Fifteen days later, Huff was on a new team, signing a two-way deal with the Denver Nuggets.
Huff found himself in 27 games between the Nuggets, and their G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold. After the season ended Huff was a free agent again, looking for a new home.
The Memphis Grizzlies called.
The Memphis Grizzlies
Huff signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies. It was his third two-way contract since joining the league, and Huff became the backup with Jaren Jackson Jr. and rookie Zach Edey in front of him.
Jackson Jr. suffered a left hamstring injury on the first day of training camp, and Huff seized the opportunity.
In his first game with his new team, Huff scored 13 points in 22 minutes, missing only two shots and recording two blocks. It was the first time he had seen NBA action since April 6, 2024, when he only played for three minutes. It was Huff’s first game with ten or more minutes since April 7, 2023.
Three days later, Huff recorded a career-high 18 points, hitting three of his five shots from long distance.
Only two days after recording the stat line, Huff finally found a home in the league. The Grizzlies rewarded the seven-footer with a four-year, standard contract deal with the team.
“It’s just really great to be able to know that I’ll be somewhere for a little while,” Huff remarked to Memphis Commercial Appeal’s Damichael Cole.
On Nov. 2, Huff tallied another new career high in only three quarters. 20 points this time with five three-pointers.
Huff is averaging career highs nearly across the board, getting a career-high sixteen minutes a night, while averaging eleven points. Huff is shooting 61% from the floor and 55% from three (on four attempts from long range). Huff’s defense has also been stellar, averaging a block a night.
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