Jaime Jaquez Jr., a rookie with the Miami Heat, wins against the 76ers with a historic Christmas performance.
Christmas Day saw Jaime Jaquez Jr., the fifth rookie in NBA history, record 30 points and 10 rebounds.
The Miami Heat are experienced in player development. As good as they are at it, they may even be more adept at spotting athletes who are a perfect fit for their culture. Even though the 2023–24 NBA season is just about three months old, there’s no mistaking that this past summer’s selection of UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. was a huge success. He was remarkably selected with the No. 18 choice, not through the lottery. Consider Christmas Day. In a nationally broadcast game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Jaquez Jr. was started in Jimmy Butler’s place because of an injury.
Take Christmas Day for example. With Jimmy Butler sidelined due to injury, Jaquez Jr. was inserted into the starting lineup in a nationally televised game versus the Philadelphia 76ers.
As good as the Miami Heat are at developing players, they may even be better at finding players who mesh well with their culture. While the 2023–24 NBA season is only a third of the way underway, it is undeniable that the selection of UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. this past summer was a steal, as he was selected with the astounding No. 18 pick—choice made outside of the lottery.
Consider Christmas Day. In a nationally broadcast game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Jaquez Jr. was started in Jimmy Butler’s place because of an injury. Jaquez Jr. carried the team to victory with 31 points (11 of 15 from the floor) and 10 rebounds, setting a new career high. In addition, Jaquez Jr. had two steals and made 8 of 8 free throw attempts. As mentioned earlier, he made history by becoming only one of five rookies to score 30 points or more on Christmas Day. Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Walt Bellamy, and Patrick Ewing are the others. Now that’s some serious business.
His ability to pump fake, get away from defenders, and score in traffic has already made him one of the best players in the NBA at such a young age. Jaquez Jr. possesses the footwork of a guy who has played in the position for ten years. He is far more explosive than most people think when it comes to his quickness off the floor, especially whether he’s securing rebounds or finishing in the paint (until they play him, of course).
His game also has a sense of serenity. When it comes to knowing how to attack the opposition, Jaquez Jr. is clinical. He’s a great fit for this business because he never appears rushed and can search for his places methodically.
It is obvious that Jaquez Jr. deserves a great deal of credit for developing into one of the NBA’s top rookies. He was a grinder when he attended Ventura County’s Camarillo High School. This work ethic was a perfect fit for Mick Cronin’s play philosophy at UCLA. Jaquez Jr. was frequently referred to as Cronin’s spirit animal, a match made in heaven. That kind of player, you know, who embodied everything head coach Cronin stood for. Essentially, the closest representation of a head coach on the field. Jaquez Jr. is currently playing a similar role in the NBA.– this time with the perfect franchise geared toward maximizing his potential. As he continues to flourish in his rookie year, the big moments from Jaquez Jr. will likely be coming fast and furiously. This time with the ideal team focused on realizing his full potential. It’s conceivable that Jaquez Jr. will produce big moments quickly as he continues to excel in his debut season.
