After years of bouncing around the fringes of the NBA, Jay Huff is finally starting to make good on the promise he once showed as a 7-footer with a feather-soft shooting touch and underrated rim-protecting instincts. For much of his early professional career, Huff existed on the margins—too talented for the G League, not quite polished enough for consistent NBA minutes. He was the kind of player coaches liked in theory but rarely trusted in practice. But now, with the Indiana Pacers giving him a real opportunity and a role that fits his skill set, Huff is proving he’s more than a fringe contributor—he’s a legitimate rotation piece, maybe even something more.
It’s easy to forget, now that he’s carving out space in Indiana’s frontcourt, that Huff wasn’t even drafted in 2021. After a standout collegiate career at Virginia—where he won a national title in 2019 and developed into one of the ACC’s most intriguing bigs—Huff entered the NBA as an undrafted free agent. He had tools that teams covet: legitimate size at 7’1”, a 7’3” wingspan, a high release on his jumper, and surprisingly good footwork for someone his size. But he also had clear weaknesses: he lacked muscle, didn’t dominate on the boards, and didn’t fit neatly into the traditional mold of a rim-running big or a stretch four. For a league that often demands specialization, Huff was a bit of a tweener in the least flattering way.
Still, there were flashes—those moments when his shot-blocking would change a game, or when he’d step out beyond the arc and bury threes like a wing. He had stints with the Lakers and the Wizards, bouncing back and forth between G League dominance and NBA anonymity. With the South Bay Lakers, Huff was often the best player on the floor: swatting shots, spacing the floor, and running the court like a much smaller player. But that excellence rarely translated into extended NBA opportunities. Coaches were hesitant to hand meaningful minutes to a player still refining his timing, learning rotations, and adapting to the speed of the pro game. It didn’t help that he was entering an NBA flooded with versatile bigs and hybrid forwards who could switch on defense, pass on the move, and hit shots from all over the court. Huff was unique, but not yet essential.
That narrative is starting to shift in Indiana. The Pacers, known for developing talent and thinking creatively about their rotations, saw in Huff what others had missed or dismissed. He signed a two-way contract with Indiana, and it wasn’t long before the coaching staff realized he could be more than an end-of-bench insurance policy. Rick Carlisle, never afraid to tinker with lineups or give unconventional players a shot, began carving out opportunities for Huff—and the big man responded. Huff’s combination of size, timing, and touch gave the Pacers something they didn’t have in abundance: a legitimate floor-spacing shot blocker who could defend the rim without fouling and knock down open looks without hesitation.
Statistically, the leap is obvious. Huff has seen a major increase in his minutes, and with that has come steady production. He’s averaging career highs across the board—in points, rebounds, blocks, and three-point percentage. But the numbers only tell part of the story. Watch a Pacers game closely, and you’ll see how Huff changes the geometry of the court. On offense, defenders are forced to respect his range, which pulls shot-blockers away from the rim and opens driving lanes for Indiana’s guards, particularly Tyrese Haliburton. On defense, he’s not a switch-everything big, but he’s smart and disciplined, rarely biting on pump fakes, and using his length to alter shots without leaving his feet.
The trust from the coaching staff has been critical. For a player like Huff, who spent years living on 10-day contracts and shuttle runs between NBA cities and G League gyms, consistency is everything. With a defined role in Indiana, he’s been able to settle in—not just physically, but mentally. There’s less pressure to prove everything in five minutes. Instead, he can focus on doing his job, playing within the system, and maximizing the possessions he’s given. That shift—from survival mode to growth mode—has unlocked a more confident, assertive version of Huff.
His teammates have noticed too. Veteran bigs like Myles Turner have praised Huff’s work ethic and feel for the game. Haliburton, always looking for teammates who understand spacing and timing, has developed an easy pick-and-pop chemistry with Huff that adds another wrinkle to Indiana’s high-octane offense. And in the locker room, there’s a growing sense that Huff isn’t just a temporary fill-in—he’s becoming a key part of the Pacers’ plans going forward.
What’s most impressive, perhaps, is how Huff has embraced this moment without trying to be someone he’s not. He’s not trying to morph into a do-it-all center overnight. He knows his game—protect the rim, space the floor, rebound in his area, move the ball quickly, and stay within himself. That kind of self-awareness is rare, especially for players who’ve spent years being told to show more or do more in order to earn a spot. Huff’s growth has come not from forcing the issue, but from sharpening the things he already does well.
There’s also something to be said for timing. The NBA has been trending toward versatility and switchability for years, but there’s also a growing recognition that rim protection and floor spacing are still premium skills—especially when housed in the same player. Huff offers that rare blend, and in a league that’s always searching for value, his skill set is becoming harder to ignore. Indiana recognized the market inefficiency, took a calculated gamble, and now they’re reaping the rewards.
Of course, there’s still room for improvement. Huff needs to get stronger, particularly if he wants to hold up against bruising centers in playoff-style matchups. He still has moments where his lack of lateral quickness gets exposed on switches, and he occasionally floats on offense instead of rolling hard to the rim. But these are refinements, not red flags. The core of his game is solid, and with consistent minutes and coaching, those edges can be smoothed out.
It’s also worth noting how Huff’s journey speaks to a broader truth about development in the NBA: sometimes, talent alone isn’t enough. Opportunity, context, and timing matter just as much. Huff didn’t suddenly become a better player overnight. He didn’t add 20 pounds of muscle or reinvent his jumper in the offseason. What changed was the situation—the fit, the system, the belief from an organization willing to look past the résumé and focus on the tape. And in that environment, Huff is flourishing.
Indiana is benefiting from that bet. In a tight Eastern Conference, every edge matters. Having a big who can stretch the floor without giving up defensive integrity gives the Pacers flexibility in their lineups. They can play big or small, fast or deliberate. Huff might not be the centerpiece, but he’s becoming an important piece—a connector, a stabilizer, a difference-maker in moments that matter.
As the season wears on, it will be fascinating to see how his role evolves. Injuries and matchups will undoubtedly shift the rotation, but Huff has done something that few fringe players ever manage: he’s made himself hard to ignore. He’s earned not just playing time, but trust. And in the NBA, trust is everything. It’s what separates the flash-in-the-pan call-ups from the long-term contributors.
For Jay Huff, the road here wasn’t straight. It was filled with detours, doubts, and moments where a lesser player might’ve walked away. But now, with the Indiana Pacers, that winding path is starting to look like a launchpad. He’s no longer just a 7-foot curiosity or a G League standout. He’s a legitimate NBA player with a growing role, real impact, and a future that suddenly looks a lot brighter.
