Last Updated on July 21, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Santi Aldama has emerged as a versatile modern forward whose blend of size, shooting touch, and passing ability allows him to impact games in a variety of ways. Comfortable stretching the floor or making smart plays with the ball in his hands, he has steadily developed into a valuable frontcourt contributor capable of fitting alongside different lineups and playing styles.

Here’s a detailed overview of NBA player Santi Aldama:

  • Full Name: Santi Aldama
  • Nickname: Santi
  • Nationality: Spanish
  • Date of Birth: January 10, 2001
  • Hometown: Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
  • Height: 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
  • Weight: 215 lbs (98 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 meters)
  • Shoe Size: Size 19 (US)
  • Shoe Brand: Nike Zoom Freak 4, Nike Kyrie Low 5
  • Jersey Number:
    • #21 – Loyola Maryland Greyhounds
    • #7 – Memphis Grizzlies
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: Canterbury School (Florida, USA)
  • College: Loyola University Maryland
  • NBA Draft: 2021, Round 1, Pick 30 (drafted by Utah Jazz, rights traded to Memphis Grizzlies)
  • Player Archetype: Stretch Big / Connector Forward
  • Primary Offensive Role: Floor-spacing big who operates as a secondary scorer and connective passer
  • Defensive Role: Help-side rim protector and rotational team defender
  • Play Style: Skilled, perimeter-oriented big with fluid mobility, shooting touch, and passing instincts
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right-handed
  • Athletic Profile: Smooth, coordinated mover with above-average agility for size; not explosive but highly functional
  • Recruiting Status: Under-the-radar international prospect; lightly recruited before Loyola Maryland
  • Draft Status Detail: Late first-round developmental upside pick; valued for versatility and shooting potential
  • Injury Status Category: Moderate Risk — has dealt with minor injuries but no major long-term setbacks
  • Career Stage: Emerging rotation player with upside
  • Comparison Style: Similar stylistically to players like stretch-oriented European bigs (e.g., Dario Šarić-type skill set)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Memphis Grizzlies (2021–present)
  • Championship Rings: 0
  • Accolades:
    • Santi Aldama’s father, Santiago Aldama Sr., is also a former basketball player who competed for Spain in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
    • College Achievements: He had an outstanding college career at Loyola Maryland, where he averaged 21.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in his sophomore season.
    • FIBA U18: Aldama helped lead Spain to the gold medal in the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship, where he was named the tournament’s MVP.
  • Parents: Father (Santiago Aldama Sr., former professional basketball player), mother not widely publicized
  • Children: None
  • Siblings: He has one younger sibling, a sister named Nerea Aldama.
  • Athlete Relatives: Father played professionally in Spain

Santi Aldama’s player archetype is that of a modern stretch big who blends size with perimeter skill, functioning offensively as a floor-spacing forward capable of secondary playmaking while defensively serving as a help-side rim protector rather than a primary stopper. At nearly seven feet with a long wingspan, he relies more on coordination and feel than raw explosiveness, using his shooting touch and passing instincts to keep the offense flowing. His play style leans toward versatility — comfortable attacking closeouts, moving the ball, and operating within team structure — while continuing to develop strength and consistency on both ends.

Scouting Report

Santi Aldama is the kind of big who quietly changes the geometry of an offense because defenders can’t treat him like a traditional frontcourt player. The first thing you notice is how comfortable he is catching the ball away from the rim. He’ll flow from a pick-and-pop into a quick swing pass, attack a hard closeout with long, controlled strides or keep the possession alive by making the extra read instead of forcing a contested shot. There isn’t much hesitation in his decisions. When used in DHOs or as a release valve above the break, he has a good feel for delivering the ball and immediately slipping into open space, forcing his defender to choose between staying attached to his shooting or protecting the paint. That balance makes him an easy player to fit alongside high-usage creators because he rarely interrupts offensive rhythm. Defensively, the picture is a little more complicated. He understands team concepts, rotates on time and uses his length well around the basket, but quicker guards can expose him if he’s pulled too far from the lane or forced to change directions repeatedly in space. That’s the trade-off. His size gives him value as a help defender, though asking him to survive long stretches switching onto dynamic ball handlers takes away from what he does best. I’ve always thought one of the more underrated parts of Aldama’s game is his willingness to keep the ball moving. Plenty of stretch bigs become stationary shooters, but he’ll relocate after passing, fill the open spot or make the next connective play that prevents the offense from stalling. Put him in a motion-heavy system with guards who consistently collapse the defense, and his combination of shooting, secondary playmaking and timely cuts becomes much more dangerous because every closeout carries consequences. Stylistically, he shares elements of Channing Frye’s floor spacing and Toni Kukoč’s instinct for linking possessions together, although Aldama plays with a little more patience than either comparison suggests, often letting the defense make the first mistake before deciding how to punish it.

Profile Notes & Context

  • Santi Aldama’s height with shoes is 7 feet 2 inches.
  • Santi Aldama’s playing weight is between 216 and 224 pounds.

Sources:
NBA.com — Santi Aldama Player Profile
Basketball Reference — Santi Aldama Stats
ESPN — Santi Aldama Bio