(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat may have missed out on trading for Damian Lillard in the offseason, but the team is still as competitive as ever during the 2023-24 NBA season.
At 10-8, the Heat are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference, but they’ve managed to stay afloat in the standings despite Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro missing time.
Bam Adebayo has taken a leap as one of the best two-way players in the league, but the rest of the Miami roster is stepping up as well.
However, the Heat have to feel great about how rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. has looked as of late.
Jaquez has been a bright spot for Miami this season as he’s added some much-needed scoring and defensive grit to the team.
JJ Redick is a fan of Jaquez and believes that he’s been one of the best rookies so far via Old Man & The Three.
“Jaime Jaquez Jr., outside of Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama, has been the best rookie this year,” Redick said.
“Jaime Jaquez Jr., outside of Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama, has been the best rookie this year.”
– JJ Redick
(Via @OldManAndThree / https://t.co/xNdUYm4DvR) pic.twitter.com/00XhUPj2aR
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 29, 2023
It’s high praise coming from Redick considering the talent in the 2023 NBA Draft class but Jaquez warrants it as he’s been much more productive than people initially expected.
The UCLA product was a late-riser during the draft process but it appears the hype was well-founded considering he’s carved out a sizable role in Erik Spoelstra’s rotation.
Jaquez is making all the teams that passed on him look silly, and Miami is reaping the benefits.
While he won’t win Rookie of the Year, Jaquez looks like a long-term player at the NBA level.
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