The NBA is learning what Tennessee fans already knew about Jahmai Mashack

Jahmai Mashack was selected 59th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2025 NBA Draft. Then, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he has quickly made himself at home.

During his NBA Summer League debut, Mashack put on a show, proving to NBA fans what the Tennessee Volunteers have always known: he can be a star. When the Grizzlies faced the Utah Jazz on Monday, Mashack came off the bench for 23 minutes and played one of the most balanced games of basketball possible.

Jahmai Mashack summer league debut stats

• 23 minutes
• 5 points (2-4 FG)
• 9 assists
• 4 rebounds
• 2 steals
• 1 block

During his four-year tenure with the Vols, Mashack (who was lovingly nicknamed "Shack") became known as a defensive juggernaut, averaging over a steal per game over all four seasons.

Of course, Tennessee loved Mashack. How could you not fall in love with someone who created such a problem for his opponents, even while playing in one of the most dominant conferences in all of college basketball?

Jahmai Mashack college career stats

• 4.2 points per game
• 2.8 rebounds per game (1.6 DR)
• 1.2 assists per game
• 1.1 steals per game
• 0.3 blocks per game

Every year he was in Knoxville, his stats only improved. From scoring more points during his senior season to more than quadrupling his average steals per game, Mashack was dedicated to growth and a dominant defensive mindset.

As Mashack continues to find his footing at the next level, the former Volunteer will continue that growth, that's yet another thing that Tennessee fans already know and NBA fans will soon learn.

Memphis and Mashack will face the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, July 8, at 7 p.m. ET. Both Volunteer and Grizzlie fans alike can tune into ESPN+ or NBA TV to see the former Tennessee star in action once again.