![]() Aldama with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 | |||||||||||||||
No. 7 – Memphis Grizzlies | |||||||||||||||
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Position | Power forward / center | ||||||||||||||
League | NBA | ||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||
Born | Las Palmas, Spain | 10 January 2001||||||||||||||
Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | ||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||||
High school | Canterbury Academy (Las Palmas, Spain) | ||||||||||||||
College | Loyola (Maryland) (2019–2021) | ||||||||||||||
NBA draft | 2021: 1st round, 30th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
Selected by the Utah Jazz | |||||||||||||||
Playing career | 2021–present | ||||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||||
2021–present | Memphis Grizzlies | ||||||||||||||
2021–2022 | →Memphis Hustle | ||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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Stats at NBA.com | |||||||||||||||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Santiago Aldama Toledo (born 10 January 2001) is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Loyola Greyhounds. He was named most valuable player (MVP) of the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship.
He is the son of Spanish basketball player Santiago Aldama, an Olympian at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Early life and career
[edit]Aldama was brought up in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain. He started playing basketball at age three because his father, Santiago Aldama, and uncle, Santi Toledo , played the sport professionally.[1] Aldama grew up idolizing basketball players Pau Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro and Kobe Bryant.[1][2]
Since his introduction to basketball, Aldama played for Canterbury Basketball Academy in Las Palmas and later chose to remain there, despite receiving offers from bigger clubs like FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Gran Canaria.[3] At the 2017 Spanish Under-16 Championship, he averaged 18.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, playing for Canterbury alongside Oumar Ballo. He helped his team to a surprising third-place finish behind FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.[3] In 2018, Aldama played on loan for the FC Barcelona under-18 team at Ciutat de L'Hospitalet qualifiers in the Adidas Next Generation tournament.[4]
Recruiting
[edit]On 5 August 2019, Aldama announced his commitment to play college basketball in the United States for Loyola Maryland. He was drawn to the school because his father knew assistant coach Ivo Simović and due to Aldama's hopes of an eventual business career, and he felt comfortable when he visited the school in June.[5][6] Considered a four-star recruit and a high-major talent, Aldama's decision to play for a mid-major program took many analysts by surprise. Evan Daniels of 247Sports.com called him "one of the biggest college-bound international steals in quite a while."[7]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Santiago Aldama PF |
Las Palmas, Spain | Canterbury Academy | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Aug 5, 2019 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports:![]() | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: 247Sports: 61 | ||||||
Sources:
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College career
[edit]Aldama missed the first three months of his freshman season with a knee injury that required surgery.[8] He made his collegiate debut for Loyola Maryland on 1 February 2020, scoring 11 points in 17 minutes in a 79–73 win over Navy.[9] Aldama was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week three times in the span of four weeks.[10] At the end of the regular season, he was named to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team.[11] On 3 March, he scored a season-high 23 points in a 78–75 loss to Lehigh in the first round of the Patriot League tournament.[12] Aldama averaged 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 blocks in 10 games as a freshman.[13]
On 13 February 2021, Aldama posted 30 points and 22 rebounds in a 97–94 triple overtime loss to Lafayette. He set the program record and matched Adonal Foyle's Patriot League record for rebounds in a game.[14] On 10 March 2021, Aldama scored a career-high 33 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 13-of-15 from the field, in a 67–63 win against Army at the Patriot League tournament semifinals. He helped Loyola advance to its first-ever Patriot League final.[15] As a sophomore, he averaged 21.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 blocks per game, earning First Team All-Patriot League honors. On 14 April 2021, Aldama declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. He later decided to remain in the draft.[16]
Professional career
[edit]Memphis Grizzlies (2021–present)
[edit]Aldama was drafted with the 30th overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. His rights were later traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.[17] On 8 August 2021, the Grizzlies announced that they had signed Aldama.[18] On 2 December 2021, Aldama scored a season-high 18 points with ten rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block in a 152–79 blowout win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.[19]
Aldama joined the Grizzlies' 2022 NBA Summer League roster.[20] On 18 July 2022, he was named to the All-NBA Summer League Second Team.[21] With Jaren Jackson Jr. sidelined, Aldama was named the Grizzlies' starting power forward to open the 2022–23 season.[22] He made his first career start in the team's season opener on 19 October, recording a double-double of 18 points and eleven rebounds in a 115–112 overtime win over the New York Knicks.[23] On 2 February 2023, Aldama scored a career-high 21 points, alongside ten rebounds, in a 128–113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.[24]
National team career
[edit]Aldama made his national team debut for Spain at the 2017 FIBA U16 European Championship in Podgorica, Montenegro, averaging nine points and 5.4 rebounds per game.[25] He led his team to a gold medal at the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship in Volos, Greece, averaging 18 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.9 steals per game. Aldama was named tournament most valuable player (MVP) and joined his teammate Usman Garuba on the All-Star Five.[26]
Career statistics
[edit]GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
[edit]Regular season
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021–22 | Memphis | 32 | 0 | 11.2 | .402 | .125 | .625 | 2.7 | .7 | .2 | .3 | 4.1 |
2022–23 | Memphis | 77 | 20 | 21.8 | .470 | .353 | .750 | 4.8 | 1.3 | .6 | .6 | 9.0 |
2023–24 | Memphis | 61 | 35 | 26.5 | .435 | .349 | .621 | 5.8 | 2.3 | .7 | .9 | 10.7 |
Career | 170 | 55 | 21.5 | .447 | .333 | .692 | 4.8 | 1.5 | .6 | .7 | 8.7 |
Playoffs
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Memphis | 6 | 0 | 16.8 | .455 | .467 | 1.000 | 4.3 | 1.2 | .5 | .0 | 6.5 |
Career | 6 | 0 | 16.8 | .455 | .467 | 1.000 | 4.3 | 1.2 | .5 | .0 | 6.5 |
College
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019–20 | Loyola | 10 | 9 | 30.4 | .459 | .217 | .515 | 7.6 | 2.1 | .9 | 1.7 | 15.2 |
2020–21 | Loyola | 17 | 17 | 35.0 | .513 | .368 | .686 | 10.1 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 21.2 |
Career | 27 | 26 | 33.3 | .495 | .306 | .639 | 9.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 19.0 |
Personal life
[edit]Aldama's father, Santiago Aldama, played professional basketball in Spain and Portugal and joined the Spanish national team at the 1992 Summer Olympics.[5] His uncle, Santi Toledo , also played professional basketball in Spain, Italy and Portugal.[27]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Eurohopes interviews Santi Aldama". Eurohopes. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ Sáez, Faustino (6 August 2019). "Santi Aldama, el extraño portento". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Sobran los genes: Uno de los grandes proyectos nacionales jugará con el Barça en la Euroliga Junior" (in Spanish). KIA en Zona. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "Aldama, Santiago". EuroLeague. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- ^ a b Lee, Edward (22 August 2019). "Freshman Santi Aldama one of nation's 'biggest recruiting steals' for Loyola Maryland men's basketball". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
- ^ "Spain's Aldama wants a business career to match his highlight-producing basketball potential". FIBA. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ Daniels, Evan; Gershon, Josh (5 August 2019). "Notable college prospects at the FIBA u18 European Championships". 247Sports. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ Lee, Edward (5 November 2019). "Prized recruit Santi Aldama out indefinitely for Loyola Maryland men's basketball after knee surgery". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ Lorensen, Nick (19 February 2020). "Spanish phenom Santi Aldama is leading a turn around at Loyola (MD)". Mid Major Madness. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "Aldama Earns Second-Straight Patriot League Weekly Award". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "Loyola's Andrew Kostecka Earns All-Patriot League First Team, Three Tabbed To Rookie Team". Press Box Online. Loyola University Maryland Athletics. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "Lehigh tops Loyola (Md.) 78-75 in Patriot first round". Associated Press. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ Ashley, Mike (30 November 2020). "Loyola Men's Basketball Aiming To Take Next Step Behind Sophomore Class". Press Box Online. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ "Aldama Breaks School Rebound Record, But Lafayette Wins In Triple Overtime". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Aldama scores 33 to carry Loyola (Md.) into Patriot final". Associated Press. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ Lee, Edward (14 April 2021). "Loyola Maryland's Santi Aldama to enter NBA draft without giving up college eligibility". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Grizzlies acquire draft rights to Santi Aldama from Jazz". NBA.com. 7 August 2021.
- ^ "Grizzlies sign 2021 first round draft picks Ziaire Williams and Santi Aldama". NBA.com. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "Grizzlies throttle Thunder by NBA-record 73-point margin". ESPN.com. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "Memphis Grizzlies 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster | NBA.com". www.nba.com. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ Rudder, Paul (19 July 2022). "Who made the 2022 NBA All-Summer League teams? Full player list". Diario AS. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "With support from Spain, Santi Aldama flourishes in the absence of Jaren Jackson Jr". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- ^ "MORANT'S 34 POINTS LEAD GRIZZLIES TO OT WIN OVER KNICKS". NBA.com. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- ^ "CAVS ALL-STAR MITCHELL CALLS GRIZZLIES' BROOKS DIRTY PLAYER". NBA.com. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- ^ "Santiago Aldama's profile: 2017 FIBA U16 European Championship". FIBA. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- ^ "Unstoppable Aldama headlines the All-Star Five of the FIBA U18 European Championship". FIBA. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- ^ "Two Sign National Letters Of Intent With Loyola Men's Basketball". Loyola University Maryland. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com
- Loyola Greyhounds bio
- College statistics