The adamant impact of stretch forward Santi Aldama has been lost in the shuffle of the Memphis Grizzlies’ bright spots this season. The Spanish product has thrived in various positions so far. His superb play has entrusted him as an optimistic and legitimate complementary piece alongside the Grizzlies’ prominent Big 3 of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane for years to come. Aldama is averaging 13.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 26.9 minutes (all career highs). His 61.2% true shooting percentage is second on the team amongst all Grizzlies averaging at least 21 minutes of play a night.
Santa Aldama’s Resolute Impact, 6th Man Race Raises Core Priorities
Santi Aldama’s inspiring start has empowered a variation of Memphis Grizzlies’ rotations this season. Aldama’s impact has done wonders on the offensive end. The Grizzlies’ offense isn’t as balanced and cohesive without the presence of the former Loyola forward.
Santi Aldama’s impact as an outside shooter has continued complicating opposing coverages and rotations. He’s shooting a very respectable 36.6% on catch-and-shoot 3P FGAs and 37.9% overall from deep. However, the Grizzlies are about a middle-of-the-road three-point shooting team as a unit. Aldama’s intricate three-point gravity alone creates seamless avenues for Grizzlies’ ball handlers to challenge defenders one-on-one aggressively. His sneaky, constant motion around pin-down screens adds problematic dimensions for opponents to solve. On top of Aldama leading the team in rebounds, the Grizzlies currently post a 106.7 defensive rating when Aldama is on the floor. Of the Grizzlies’ main rotational frontcourt personnel of Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey, Brandon Clarke, and Santi Aldama, Aldama is by far the Grizzlies’ most malleable of the bunch.
Aldama’s Team Accelerating Vision
Santi Aldama’s role versatility in Taylor Jenkins’ rotations is one of the formidable components behind the Grizzlies’ lightyear of an offense this season. Furthermore, Aldama has been proficient and a net plus regardless of the surrounding Grizzlies that grace the floor beside him. He is also part of the Memphis Grizzlies’ three most productive lineups this season. (Minimum 20 min. Played).
Aldama doesn’t take long to decide his next action once he gets possession of the ball. His prowess as an effective jump-shooter has unlocked other vital parts of his offensive arsenal. In effect, amongst all Grizzlies’ players that have at least 100 drives, Aldama has the lowest turnover percentage. Comparatively, he’s also shooting 49.1% from the field when he puts the ball on the floor. The fourth-year forward rarely hesitates to swing the ball around the perimeter if he doesn’t like the quality of a possible shot attempt or he’ll generate a scoring opportunity for a teammate.
Santi Aldama’s impact as a connective passer has undeniably been instrumental to the Grizzlies’ offensive outbreak this season. Aldama’s 1018 total passes this season trail only teammate Scotty Pippen Jr. He also ranks second on the team in hockey assists. Aldama by default already creates disadvantages with his shooting and lineup versatility. In conclusion, Aldama’s self-awareness to utilize his passing to ignite Grizzlies’ half-court possessions is what differentiates him from other floor-spacing dominant big men.
Some of Santi Aldama’s connective and half-court igniting finds so far in 2024-25:#Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/JL6WTkcayo
— Nass (@nassthepod) December 17, 2024
Grizzlies’ Sixth Sense
Santi Aldama’s stellar performance this season has made him an early prime finalist for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award. A forward who has quickly become one of Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman’s most prized assets. Aldama is currently in the last year of his rookie deal that he signed back in 2021. He’ll be a restricted free agent after this season. Surely, Aldama may not be Kleiman’s highest priority going into the 2025 offseason, but it’ll be an inevitable hefty task for him to handle.
