# T. J. Leaf
**T. J. Leaf** (Ty Jacob Leaf, born 1997 in [Tel Aviv](https://www.edgepedia.org/tel-aviv), Israel) is an Israeli-born American professional basketball player, a 6-foot-10 (208 cm), 222-pound power forward who was selected 18th overall by the [Indiana Pacers](https://www.edgepedia.org/indiana-pacers) in the 2017 NBA Draft after one season at UCLA and played four NBA seasons with the Pacers and [Portland Trail Blazers](https://www.edgepedia.org/portland-trail-blazers).[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leaftj01.html) • [2](https://uclabruins.com/documents/download/2024/10/11/MBKB_25MG_160_168.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1997, Tel Aviv, Israel; 6-10 (208 cm), 222 lb (100 kg); shoots right[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leaftj01.html) |
| Draft | Indiana Pacers, first round, 18th overall, 2017 NBA Draft; NBA debut October 18, 2017[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leaftj01.html) |
| NBA career | 4 seasons (2018-20 with Indiana, 2021 with Portland per UCLA's count), 146 games, 2 starts, 3.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, 0.3 assists per game[2](https://uclabruins.com/documents/download/2024/10/11/MBKB_25MG_160_168.pdf) |
| Shooting | .492 FG%, .341 3FG%, .585 FT% over 146 NBA games[2](https://uclabruins.com/documents/download/2024/10/11/MBKB_25MG_160_168.pdf) |
| High school | Foothills Christian (El Cajon, California) under his father Brad Leaf; 3,022 career points and 1,476 rebounds; McDonald's All-American[3](https://www.nba.com/pacers/tj-leaf-2017-draft-prospect) |
| Recruiting rank | No. 13 nationally by ESPN.com, No. 16 by Rivals.com, No. 22 by Scout.com in the 2016 class[3](https://www.nba.com/pacers/tj-leaf-2017-draft-prospect) |
| Earnings | At least $11,576,025 in professional basketball salary, including $4,326,825 in 2021[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leaftj01.html) |
## Early life and high school
Leaf was born in Tel Aviv because his father, Brad Leaf, was then playing professional basketball in Israel, where he spent a 17-season career.[4](https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/leaf-happy-be-home-indiana) The family settled in [El Cajon, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/el-cajon-california), where Leaf played four varsity seasons at Foothills Christian High School for head coach Brad Leaf, his father.[3](https://www.nba.com/pacers/tj-leaf-2017-draft-prospect)
His high school production was extensive. As a senior in 2015-16 he averaged 28.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 3.2 steals per game, shot 68 percent from the field, and totaled 852 points over 30 games.[3](https://www.nba.com/pacers/tj-leaf-2017-draft-prospect) He finished his high school career with 3,022 points and 1,476 rebounds, trailing only his brother Troy in career points in the San Diego Section.[3](https://www.nba.com/pacers/tj-leaf-2017-draft-prospect) He led Foothills Christian to the CIF San Diego Section Championship in 2016, scoring 36 points with 11 rebounds, six assists, and six blocks in an 80-63 win over Cathedral Catholic, and was named a McDonald's All-American, with six points and a game-high nine rebounds for the West Team in a 114-107 win in Chicago on March 30, 2016.[3](https://www.nba.com/pacers/tj-leaf-2017-draft-prospect) Recruiting services ranked him No. 13 nationally by ESPN.com, No. 16 by Rivals.com, and No. 22 by Scout.com.[3](https://www.nba.com/pacers/tj-leaf-2017-draft-prospect)
## College career at UCLA
Leaf played the 2016-17 season at UCLA under coach [Steve Alford](https://www.edgepedia.org/steve-alford) and chose to enter the [NBA draft](https://www.edgepedia.org/nba-draft) after his freshman year.[4](https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/leaf-happy-be-home-indiana) • [5](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2017/6/5/15727940/nba-draft-2017-prospect-breakdown-t-j-leaf-ucla-atlanta-hawks) He was one of three UCLA freshmen taken in that draft, alongside classmates including [Lonzo Ball](https://www.edgepedia.org/lonzo-ball).[6](https://uclabruins.com/documents/download/2017/10/15/MBKB_18MG_72_86.pdf) During the season he earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors twice, on December 5 (wins over UC Riverside and at Kentucky) and December 19 (wins over UC Santa Barbara and Ohio State).[7](https://uclabruins.com/documents/download/2016/12/19/UCLA_Notes_Dec21.pdf) Playing alongside Ball, one of the most highly regarded offensive facilitators in recent NCAA history, he operated in a spaced floor offense that pre-draft analysts credited with raising his confidence and production as a shooter.[5](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2017/6/5/15727940/nba-draft-2017-prospect-breakdown-t-j-leaf-ucla-atlanta-hawks)
## NBA career
The Pacers selected Leaf with the 18th pick of the 2017 draft, viewing him as a young, versatile forward capable of earning minutes from the start.[8](https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/pacers-gain-depth-versatile-ucla-forwards-leaf-and-anigbogu) He appeared in 53 games as a rookie in 2017-18, 58 in 2018-19, and 28 in 2019-20, all in a reserve role except one start in each of the last two seasons.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leaftj01.html) His best statistical season was 2018-19, when he shot .541 from the field in 522 minutes.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leaftj01.html)
Across 146 NBA games he averaged 3.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in a limited role, shooting .492 from the field and .341 from three-point range.[2](https://uclabruins.com/documents/download/2024/10/11/MBKB_25MG_160_168.pdf) His last NBA appearance came in 2021.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leaftj01.html)
## Playing profile
Pre-draft evaluations centered on offense. Scouts described a diverse offensive skill set paired with explosive leaping ability, good passing, and the intelligence to fit varied offensive systems, with clean shooting mechanics, excellent footwork, and above-average passing from the high post.[10](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/who-is-tj-leaf-scouting-report-bio-analysis-of-nba-draft-prospect) • [5](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2017/6/5/15727940/nba-draft-2017-prospect-breakdown-t-j-leaf-ucla-atlanta-hawks) The concerns were physical and defensive: a short wingspan relative to his height made him more comparable to taller small forwards than an ideal power forward, he was not a strong post defender or rim protector, and analysts judged him not yet ready to defend at NBA level.[10](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/who-is-tj-leaf-scouting-report-bio-analysis-of-nba-draft-prospect) • [11](https://nbadraftroom.com/tj-leaf-nba-draft-scouting-report/) • [5](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2017/6/5/15727940/nba-draft-2017-prospect-breakdown-t-j-leaf-ucla-atlanta-hawks)
## Later career
After leaving the NBA, Leaf played internationally, including for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli league and [EuroLeague](https://www.edgepedia.org/euroleague), where game logs from the 2026-27 season show appearances such as 12 points and 5 rebounds against Ironi Kiryat Ata in the League Cup.[12](https://www.flashscore.com/player/leaf-t-j/OE4v5vn2/) He had earlier stints recorded in G League and international statistics databases.[13](https://www.basketball-reference.com/gleague/players/l/leaftj01d.html) • [14](https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/tj-leaf-1.html)
## References
1. [T.J. Leaf Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more, Basketball-Reference.com](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leaftj01.html)
2. [Bruins in the NBA, UCLA Bruins media guide (2024)](https://uclabruins.com/documents/download/2024/10/11/MBKB_25MG_160_168.pdf)
3. [TJ Leaf: 2017 Draft Prospect, Indiana Pacers](https://www.nba.com/pacers/tj-leaf-2017-draft-prospect)
4. [Leaf Happy to be "Home" in Indiana, Indiana Pacers](https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/leaf-happy-be-home-indiana)
5. [NBA Draft 2017 Prospect Breakdown: T.J. Leaf, Peachtree Hoops](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2017/6/5/15727940/nba-draft-2017-prospect-breakdown-t-j-leaf-ucla-atlanta-hawks)
6. [Graduated/Drafted Players, UCLA Bruins media guide (2017)](https://uclabruins.com/documents/download/2017/10/15/MBKB_18MG_72_86.pdf)
7. [TJ Leaf (22), UCLA game notes (December 2016)](https://uclabruins.com/documents/download/2016/12/19/UCLA_Notes_Dec21.pdf)
8. [Pacers Gain Depth With Versatile UCLA Forwards Leaf and Anigbogu, Indiana Pacers](https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/pacers-gain-depth-versatile-ucla-forwards-leaf-and-anigbogu)
9. [T.J. Leaf News, ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/news/_/id/4066425)
10. [Who is TJ Leaf? Scouting report, bio, analysis of NBA draft prospect, FOX Sports](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/who-is-tj-leaf-scouting-report-bio-analysis-of-nba-draft-prospect)
11. [TJ Leaf NBA Draft Scouting Report, NBA Draft Room](https://nbadraftroom.com/tj-leaf-nba-draft-scouting-report/)
12. [T.J. Leaf (Maccabi Tel Aviv) Stats, Flashscore](https://www.flashscore.com/player/leaf-t-j/OE4v5vn2/)
13. [T.J. Leaf G-League Stats, Basketball-Reference.com](https://www.basketball-reference.com/gleague/players/l/leaftj01d.html)
14. [T.J. Leaf International Stats, Basketball-Reference.com](https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/tj-leaf-1.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › Current NBA players*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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