Many adjustments must be made by anyone entering a new profession after graduating from college. That is also true in the NBA, as Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. reflected on his thus far highly successful new life.
“You kind of learn a lot about yourself,” said Jaquez. “It’s one thing to be alone. Making new friends and getting close to the men out here has obviously been fantastic. And you get to look in the mirror and realise what you really want out of life. I’m having a great time in Miami, being away from home, and being a genuine grownup, which I believe is the most exciting aspect. My parents are no longer 45 minutes away as they once were.
The 22-year-old is excelling with the Heat little over two months into his first NBA season. Jaquez, the No. 18 overall choice in the 2023 NBA Draft this summer, has emerged as one of the league’s finest first-year players.
He grew up in California and played collegiately at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for four seasons before joining the Heat on a five-game road trip against Western Conference opponents.
They will face the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, both at Crypto.com Arena, in back-to-back games.
Prior to the trip, Jaquez demonstrated his abilities to a national audience by scoring a career-high 31 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day.
Since joining the Heat, he has received significant accolades, with franchise player Jimmy Butler and some Boston Celtics legends among his most fervent admirers. ESPN commentator J.J. Redick has dubbed him one of the league’s greatest rookies, among more lauded draft picks Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs (first overall in 2023) and Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder (second overall in the 2022 NBA Draft).
Jaquez is the only Heat player to have appeared in all 32 games this season, a significant and essential accomplishment given the team’s ailments. In order to achieve their 19-13 record, the Heat have used 17 different players and 14 different starters.
Jaquez is seventh on the squad with 13.7 points per game, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Despite starting only eight games, he ranks fourth on the club in minutes played, trailing only players Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Butler.
The Heat are apparently having a shootaround on the UCLA campus on Monday, allowing Jaquez to demonstrate to his family and friends how far he’s come since leaving home and commencing on his NBA career.
