MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Over the summer, there were people who saw the 7-foot-1 Jay Huff and said “hey, the Grizzlies need a player!” To which Jay Huff, who was already on the Grizzlies roster, would reply “oh, cool.”
He may be a role player, but Huff mania has taken Grizz nation by storm in the early part of the year.
Huff may have the height to be an NBA player, but he's still unassuming as far as NBA players go.
"A couple times people have either said did you use to play basketball, which I’m a little bit hurt by. I feel like I still look young enough to still be hooping, but I guess not," Huff said.
Don’t let long beard fool you. Jay Huff is still young enough to hoop at the ripe old age of 27. There’s nothing old man about his game.
Huff joined the Grizzlies over the summer on a two-way contract. Meaning half his time is spent with the Grizzlies and half with the Memphis Hustle.
It took just three games of dagger threes, stifling blocks and reverse jams to convince the Grizz to let him stick around full time. In four games, he's averaging 12.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks a game while shooting 58% from three-point range.
On Monday, the Grizzlies converted Huff from a two-way contract to a standard four year deal. That elusive long term deal is something he’s been waiting on his whole career, since going undrafted out of Virginia in 2021 and bouncing between the LA Lakers, Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets' G-League teams.
"It happened really fast and (my wife and I) were talking about how excited we are. Not just to stick somewhere, because we’ve bounced around a lot, but to stick somewhere that we really like," Huff said. "I’m enjoying going to work everyday and I know that’s not always the case."
Huff’s enjoying Memphis. His teammates are enjoying his game.
"After last game I was asking him why it didn’t happen at the other stops. I was curious why. I’m glad they fumbled the bag and we were able to get the Huff man," said Desmond Bane.
"Everybody saw it coming man. The way he’s been balling. He loves coming into work," said Jaren Jackson Jr. "I knew from the first open gym he was balling too. I’m happy for Jay Huff."
As for how he’ll celebrate the new contract money with his teammates, don't expect Huff to pick up the tab a steakhouse anytime soon.
"I’ll pay for a rental car and I’ll take them all to McDonald’s and say, ‘what do y’all want?’ That will be my take everybody out because that’s not happening. That (bill) would hurt so bad, I’d be upset," Huff said.
Now that Jay Huff is sticking around on a standard contract, there’s been a lot of conversation about what nickname is going to stick. Hufflepuff and The Huffington Posterizer seem to be front runners. The Grizzlies return to action in FedExForum Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets.