Offseason basketball is rarely glamorous, but it is often where the real transformation happens. For Jay Huff, the newly acquired big man for the Indiana Pacers, that transformation is taking place thousands of miles from Gainbridge Fieldhouse—in the gyms and blacktops of Spain. A towering 7-footer with a soft touch and developing defensive instincts, Huff has been drawing eyes overseas during high-intensity 3v3 offseason runs, steadily sharpening his skillset and showcasing an expanded game that might soon pay dividends when he dons the blue and gold in Indiana.
Huff’s story has always been one of under-the-radar development. He wasn’t a top draft pick. He didn’t arrive in the NBA with fanfare or viral mixtapes. What he brought instead was a blend of patience, hard work, and technical refinement—an old-school approach in an era dominated by speed and flash. After bouncing between two-way contracts and G League stints with the South Bay Lakers and Capital City Go-Go, Huff finally found enough traction to sign a standard contract and now enters the 2025-26 NBA season with real opportunity on the Pacers roster. Yet he’s treating that opportunity not as validation, but as a springboard.
Rather than settle into an offseason of casual workouts and vacations, Huff has immersed himself in overseas basketball culture—specifically, a rigorous 3v3 circuit in Spain that features a unique combination of NBA-caliber athleticism, international fundamentals, and relentless tempo. These aren’t pickup games in the traditional sense. The Spanish 3v3 scene is organized, deeply competitive, and physically demanding. It’s the kind of environment that tests your stamina, stretches your creativity, and forces you to evolve every possession.
And Huff has thrived.
Observers and coaches alike have been stunned by the strides he’s made. While he’s always been a respectable rim protector, it’s his offensive versatility that’s taken center stage this summer. Huff has flashed legitimate range from beyond the arc, stretching defenses with confident pick-and-pop threes and even initiating offense from the perimeter—something rarely seen in his earlier career phases. His improved handle, still far from guard-level, is now effective enough to attack closeouts and make decisive moves without coughing up the ball.
Moreover, the footwork in the post has looked sharper than ever. While European players are often revered for their balance and precision, Huff has taken a page from their book and translated it into his own game. Whether it’s a drop step, a pivot-and-fade, or a deceptive up-and-under, his interior moves have grown more fluid and calculated. Gone is the hesitation that once plagued his low-post presence. In its place is a confident, adaptable scorer who understands how to exploit mismatches with his length and timing.
And defense? That’s still the cornerstone of what he brings to the table. His shot-blocking instincts have always been solid, but now he’s displaying a more refined sense of spatial control. The Spanish 3v3 format, which relies heavily on spacing and off-ball movement, has forced Huff to elevate his awareness and lateral mobility. He’s defending guards in switches, cutting off penetration angles, and communicating effectively on rotations—all signs of a maturing anchor who can potentially quarterback a second-unit defense in the NBA.
The timing of Huff’s offseason explosion could not be better for the Pacers. Indiana enters the new season with a roster that is both exciting and fragile—young talent, explosive guards, but a frontcourt that still lacks consistent depth behind starting center Myles Turner. Huff’s presence could be the X-factor, especially if he can provide rim protection and floor spacing in bench units. With head coach Rick Carlisle known for utilizing bigs who can stretch the floor and pass from the elbows, Huff may have landed in an ideal situation to maximize his strengths.
But none of this is being handed to him. The coaching staff in Indiana has been monitoring his progress closely, keeping tabs on footage from his European offseason games, and sending development staff overseas to track his conditioning and in-game decision-making. The feedback so far has been glowing. One assistant reportedly told a local Indiana outlet that Huff “looks like a different player—stronger, quicker, and more confident than we’ve ever seen him.” Another scout praised his adaptability, noting how smoothly Huff has adjusted to different styles of play and coaching expectations.
Those who’ve played against Huff this summer echo that sentiment. Several Spanish league veterans have praised his improved feel for the game. One noted, “You can see he’s thinking two steps ahead now. It’s not just physical tools. He’s understanding the rhythm, knowing when to go up strong and when to find the open man.” That blend of physical gifts and basketball IQ is what teams desperately seek in rotation bigs, especially in a league that increasingly favors versatility over brute force.
Huff’s teammates in Indiana are also taking note. Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ All-Star point guard and floor general, recently commented on Huff’s development during a media appearance. “Jay’s putting in work. We’ve seen the clips. We’re excited to get him into the mix,” Haliburton said. “He’s one of those guys who’s never really gotten a fair shake in the league, but he keeps his head down and gets better. That’s the kind of guy you want next to you when games matter.”
This kind of validation from a team leader matters. It helps create early chemistry and signals that Huff’s efforts abroad aren’t just personal growth exercises—they’re investment into the team’s collective future. In a sport where locker room dynamics can make or break seasons, every bit of earned respect counts double.
Still, it’s worth remembering that the NBA is unforgiving. Development doesn’t always translate. Summer gains sometimes vanish under the bright lights of regular-season competition. But Huff seems acutely aware of that. He’s not parading around Europe as if he’s arrived. Every statement from him reflects a humble, workmanlike mindset. “It’s about getting better every day,” he recently told a Spanish outlet. “I’m grateful for the chance Indiana’s giving me, and I want to be ready when my name’s called. Simple as that.”
That humility is part of what’s drawing fans to Huff as a potential sleeper success story. He isn’t clamoring for attention. He isn’t tweeting about his growth or issuing bold proclamations. Instead, he’s grinding in silence, letting his play speak—and this summer, it’s been speaking volumes. If his development holds steady into training camp, Huff could very well find himself not just on the Pacers’ roster, but in their regular rotation.
Beyond the tangible improvements, what stands out most about Huff’s offseason is the intentionality. He chose to go overseas not for the glamour or ease, but because it was the hardest, most challenging environment he could find that would sharpen his edges. That decision says more about his readiness than any stat line or highlight clip. It reflects a mindset rooted in long-term impact, not short-term flashes.
As the season draws closer, Indiana fans will begin to look toward training camp, preseason, and opening night with growing anticipation. Much of the spotlight will rightfully shine on Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, and the rest of the young core. But those who’ve been paying close attention might keep an extra eye on Huff. Because sometimes, the most impactful pieces aren’t the loudest ones—they’re the ones forged quietly, far from the spotlight, in gyms on the other side of the world.
Jay Huff’s journey is far from complete, but this summer in Spain may one day be remembered as the moment it truly began to turn. If he continues to blend size with skill, humility with hunger, there’s a very real chance that the Pacers may have unearthed a gem. Not one that fell into their lap, but one carved meticulously through sweat, patience, and relentless work when no one else was watching.
