Jaime Jaquez Jr. got his ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment before the start of the season because of Damian Lillard.
The biggest talking point of the summer was the Damian Lillard trade saga, as most of the league expected Lillard to join the Miami Heat before getting moved to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Unfortunately, that trade saga was the ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment for Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., who had just been drafted by the team and spent the entire summer not knowing if he would start the season with the team, as he told HoopsHype.
HoopsHype: “Coming into your rookie year, you had to deal with months of Damian Lillard trade rumors. How was it dealing with that?”
Jaime Jaquez Jr.: “Welcome to the NBA. That’s a part of the things you’re going to have to deal with. First offseason, trade rumors, welcome to the league. That’s the job you’re in. I tried to stay focused. I was in Miami and being professional. I’m here right now, so that’s what I’m going to focus on. Stay present and in the moment. Whatever happens will happen. Look on the bright side and enjoy it.”
Jaquez is emerging as one of the standouts of the 2023 NBA Draft already, providing big minutes and production for the Heat. He’s averaging 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on the season, but his numbers have been improving over the last 10 games. He has a legitimate chance to be a heavy contributor all season long for the reigning NBA Finalists.
The No. 18 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft was a divisive selection, as Jaquez is coming into the NBA after a four-year NCAA stint. He’s older than most rookies and is expected to have a lower ceiling than the players drafted around him, prompting many to wonder why the Heat didn’t go for a better prospect on paper.
Through the first 16 games of the season, it’s clear why the Heat prioritized Jaquez. His personality fits perfectly onto the roster, along with his mentality. He is an active hustler on the court and looks unafraid of big moments. Despite being a four-year college player, Jaquez has already bought into ‘Heat Culture’, even explaining to HoopsHype what it meant.
“I think it’s just really buying into the team and putting winning first. I think that’s the biggest thing. Coming together as a collective unit and doing things to help us win and keeping the main thing the main thing, winning games.”
Jaquez’s unselfish play is already yielding big results for the franchise. He’ll have to be ready to take an even bigger role if needed, with Tyler Herro still out with injury and Bam Adebayo possibly joining Herro on the injury list.
If he had gotten traded for Lillard, he’d have to chalk it up to the business of basketball. No matter how the team drafted him and how well he fits them, a superstar player often makes everybody except other superstars available. Whether Jaquez could’ve enjoyed similar success and development with the Trail Blazers will never be known, but he sure will be happy to be in Miami and compete on one of the strongest franchises in the NBA.