Jaime Jaquez Jr. is coming off a tough 2024-25 campaign with the Miami Heat. Regardless, the 24-year-old will aim to be a key member of the rotation for the team in the 2025-26 season.
Given the importance of his situation and his role, Jaquez Jr. seems to be prioritizing a bounce-back to form. While discussing his approach to the offseason with the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang, Jaquez said:
“Just going back and watching some film. I think that’s a big one. Just remembering what it was that put me on the floor, what it was that got me to this position. Just kind of leaning into my strengths, as well as working on things that I need to work on, like shooting and defense. And just bringing it all together as a whole, I think, is one of the biggest things for me this offseason. I’ve been doing a great job, my trainer out there is really helping me through this process, and it has been great.”
Jaquez Jr. was one of the more promising prospects from the 2023 NBA Draft class. After an impressive rookie season, the guard was expected to make big waves in the 2024-25 campaign. Unfortunately, this didn’t come to pass.
After enduring a sophomore slump, the 24-year-old appears ready to take on the challenges of his third season in the league. On this note, the guard also spoke about how the last two years have been a valuable learning experience.
The Heat roster underwent several changes in the offseason. With key veterans on the way out and former teammates being moved, Jaquez Jr. finds himself in an unfamiliar situation. However, he highlighted the positives when he said:
“I think your rookie year, you go through it and it’s an adjustment. Now your second year, I think you really start to understand what it means to be in this business. Guys that you’ve built a relationship with are no longer going to be there. It’s definitely going to be an adjustment period, but we’re just really excited to get new guys and have this new team and try to win games.”
The Heat’s roster changes have seen them transform into a team featuring a lot of young talent. Driven by youth energy, Miami is predicted to be a dark horse in the East, primarily due to the squad’s latent potential.
Jaquez Jr. will be a key factor in this team’s success in the upcoming season. The 24-year-old saw a significant reduction in playing time in his sophomore year, resulting in limited opportunities. With key veteran role players out of the way, Jaquez Jr. can cement his place in the rotation.
Last season, the guard posted an average of 8.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, on shooting splits of 46.1% from the field, 31.1% from three-point range, and 75.4% from the charity stripe. If he can improve upon these figures while also becoming a more reliable defender, the Heat will look to Jaquez Jr. to take the necessary steps to become a significant contributor for the team.
