Santi Aldama

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.

This article is about Santi Aldama. For his father, see Santiago Aldama.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Aldama and the second or maternal family name is Toledo.
Santi Aldama
Aldama with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022
No. 7 – Memphis Grizzlies
PositionPower forward / center
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2001-01-10) 10 January 2001
Las Palmas, Spain
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolCanterbury Academy
(Las Palmas, Spain)
CollegeLoyola (Maryland) (2019–2021)
NBA draft2021: 1st round, 30th overall pick
Selected by the Utah Jazz
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–presentMemphis Grizzlies
2021–2022→Memphis Hustle
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Spain
FIBA U18 European Championship
Gold medal – first place2019 GreeceTeam

He is the son of Spanish basketball player Santiago Aldama, an Olympian at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Early life and career

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

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]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
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: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:4/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:   247Sports: 61
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 8 October 2019.

College career

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

Memphis Grizzlies (2021–present)

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 13 October 2023, Aldama scored a career-high 22 points, alongside 7 rebounds, in a 102-103 loss theAtlanta Hawks.

National team career

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.[24] 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.[25]

Career statistics
Legend
  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

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Memphis 32011.3.402.125.6252.7.7.2.34.1
2022–23 Memphis 772021.8.470.353.7504.81.3.6.69.0
Career 1092018.7.457.318.7274.21.1.5.57.6

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023 Memphis 6016.8.455.4671.0004.31.2.5.06.5
Career 6016.8.455.4671.0004.31.2.5.06.5

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20 Loyola 10930.4.459.217.5157.62.1.91.715.2
2020–21 Loyola 171735.0.513.368.68610.12.31.01.721.2
Career 272633.3.495.306.6399.22.21.01.719.0

Personal life

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.[26]

References
  1. "Eurohopes interviews Santi Aldama". Eurohopes. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  2. Sáez, Faustino (6 August 2019). "Santi Aldama, el extraño portento". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  3. "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.
  4. "Aldama, Santiago". EuroLeague. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  5. 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.
  6. "Spain's Aldama wants a business career to match his highlight-producing basketball potential". FIBA. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  7. Daniels, Evan; Gershon, Josh (5 August 2019). "Notable college prospects at the FIBA u18 European Championships". 247Sports. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  8. 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.
  9. Lorensen, Nick (19 February 2020). "Spanish phenom Santi Aldama is leading a turn around at Loyola (MD)". Mid Major Madness. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  10. "Aldama Earns Second-Straight Patriot League Weekly Award". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  11. "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.
  12. "Lehigh tops Loyola (Md.) 78-75 in Patriot first round". Associated Press. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  13. Ashley, Mike (30 November 2020). "Loyola Men's Basketball Aiming To Take Next Step Behind Sophomore Class". Press Box Online. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  14. "Aldama Breaks School Rebound Record, But Lafayette Wins In Triple Overtime". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  15. "Aldama scores 33 to carry Loyola (Md.) into Patriot final". Associated Press. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  16. 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.
  17. "Grizzlies acquire draft rights to Santi Aldama from Jazz". NBA.com. 7 August 2021.
  18. "Grizzlies sign 2021 first round draft picks Ziaire Williams and Santi Aldama". NBA.com. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  19. "Grizzlies throttle Thunder by NBA-record 73-point margin". ESPN.com. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  20. "Memphis Grizzlies 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster | NBA.com". www.nba.com. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  21. Rudder, Paul (19 July 2022). "Who made the 2022 NBA All-Summer League teams? Full player list". Diario AS. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  22. "With support from Spain, Santi Aldama flourishes in the absence of Jaren Jackson Jr". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  23. "MORANT'S 34 POINTS LEAD GRIZZLIES TO OT WIN OVER KNICKS". NBA.com. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  24. "Santiago Aldama's profile: 2017 FIBA U16 European Championship". FIBA. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  25. "Unstoppable Aldama headlines the All-Star Five of the FIBA U18 European Championship". FIBA. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  26. "Two Sign National Letters Of Intent With Loyola Men's Basketball". Loyola University Maryland. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
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