Upon the conclusion of the Grizzlies’ season, general manager Zach Kleiman placed an emphasis on recruiting players who embody the tenacity and determination that the people of Memphis so dearly loves to support. Kleiman selected Jahmai Mashack, a former guard for the University of Tennessee, with the final pick of the 2025 NBA draft, likely the finest defensive player in the draft.
Recently, in March, Tony Allen got his jersey retired, solidifying his status as one of the most iconic figures in Grizzlies’ history.
During his introduction at the team’s rookie press conference, Mashack made the predictable statement that Allen was one of the important players he had followed since he was a little boy.
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.
The NBA summer league was a time for teams to sort out their roster structure, and Jahmai Mashack was expected to contend for a two-way berth.
On July 10th, they inked two-way contracts with fellow second-round pick Javon Small, but Mashack is still waiting for what seems like an obvious decision by the team.
While shooting 46.2% from the field and 41.7% from outside the arc, Mashack averaged 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks in five games played in the summer league.
As far as stat-stuffing goes, that’s about it for a player who has been compared to Luguentz Dort, the guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In addition, Mashack brought up his underappreciated talent as a three-point shooter during his initial press conference; he displayed some of that ability with a 41.7% success rate from beyond the arc on 12 overall attempts.
This came after four years of collegiate play in which he saw mostly defensive stops, with an average of just one shot per game from three attempts.
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.
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