Former Vol Jahmai Mashack pulled off an NBA career first while most Tennessee fans were sleeping
The VFL had a breakout game on the West Coast.
Former Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack has been thrust into an expanded role with the Memphis Grizzlies in recent weeks.
And on Monday night in San Francisco, the VFL made his biggest impact of the season.
Mashack totaled 17 points on 8-10 shooting with two rebounds, two steals, and an assist in the Grizzlies’ 114-113 loss to the Golden State Warriors. And he earned player of the game honors from the Grizzlies for his efforts.
Former Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack named Grizzlies player of the game against Warriors with career-high 17 points
One of the questions about Mashack going into his NBA career is how much he could contribute on the offensive end of the floor. His calling card is obviously his defense, which is what got him drafted, but developing more on the other end of the loor is what would allow him to stick around in the league and become a factor.
He showed a varied and effective offensive skillet on Monday night. He had the outside shot working, and he drove the ball to the basket effectively, which is something Tennessee fans didn’t see all that much of during his time in Knoxville.
Of course, the defense is still strong, as evidenced by his previous game against Portland last Saturday. He tallied six steals to go with eight points in the Grizzlies’ 112-115 loss to the Trailblazers.
Mashack has been logging key minutes due to roster injuries, including some time at center, which is astounding for a 6-3 guard to do. His role will likely diminish once the roster gets healthy, but for the time being, Mashack is making a case that he deserves to be on an NBA roster night in and night out.
