Jaime Jaquez Jr. had the night of his life when he was drafted into the NBA. But as fate would have it, that same unforgettable night would mark the chaotic beginning of a love story that feels straight out of a rom-com, with a plot twist involving an Uber, a drunken breakdown, and a second chance.
In a recent appearance on the Straight to Cam podcast, Jaquez Jr. shared the full story for the first time publicly. The Miami Heat forward recounted how he met Dominique Ruotolo, now his girlfriend, on the very night his NBA dreams came true.
He was celebrating in New York, drinking tequila after being drafted, riding a high unlike anything he’d felt before. And then, literally bumping into a stranger in a crowded room, everything shifted.
“So, I met her in New York on draft night. I was, you know, having the time of my life. My dream had just come true.”
“And I bump into her, literally bump into her, like straight out of a movie. We started talking and chatting, and as the night progressed, we were having a great time, getting to know each other.”
“At some point, I said, ‘Let’s get out of here. Let’s go grab some pizza or something.’ She was like, ‘Okay, let’s go.’ I call an Uber.”
“And the second I get into the Uber, the loud music stops, the lights stop flashing and it hits me: ‘Oh wow. I can’t go get pizza. I need to go home.’”
“She’s like, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘I’m not okay. Please take me home.’”
“So she’s confused. She’s like, ‘Wait, you’re taking me to your hotel? Who even are you? I don’t know you!’ And I said, ‘Please, just take me to my room. I’m begging you.’”
“She ends up taking me back to my hotel. I stumble out, and my brother is asleep in the room, like, ‘What the hell is going on?’ I make a beeline straight to the bathroom… and, yeah, you can guess the rest. I ended up dying, metaphorically, of course. Just a complete mess.”
“She’s like, ‘What the hell?!’ And then our boy Justin walks into the room and sees me on the bathroom floor like, ‘Yo, what’s happening here?!’ It was a great night, until it wasn’t. And that’s how we met the first time.”
“So Justin ended up getting her number. She was like, ‘Yeah, I gotta go. I don’t know who this guy is. Thanks, but no thanks. ’I texted her the next morning, like, ‘Hey, I’m really sorry. Thank you so much for helping me out last night.’”
“She replied, ‘Of course. No problem. It happens to the best of us.’”
The two hit it off instantly, talking and laughing like old friends. Jaquez, buzzing with adrenaline and emotion, suggested they ditch the party for a slice of New York pizza. She agreed. But the second they got into the Uber, everything crashed. The adrenaline wore off, the tequila hit, and Jaquez realized he was in no condition to continue the night.
Ruotolo, confused and cautious, ended up escorting him to his hotel, only to find him collapsing on the bathroom floor.
She left that night bewildered, and the two didn’t speak again for three months. But Jaquez made it right, inviting her to hang out once they were both back in Los Angeles. That night, they reconnected. Sparks flew again. This time, no messy bathroom floors.
“After that, we didn’t talk for about three months. I was living my life, she was living hers. Then I came back to L.A., and one night, we were all going out with friends. My roommate says, ‘Yo, you should invite that girl from New York. Didn’t she go to USC?’”
“I was like, ‘Yeah, she did.’ So I hit her up: ‘Hey, can I make it up to you? We’re going out tonight. Bring whoever you want.’ She came, brought her friends, and the rest is history. We hit it off that night. Fell in love quick.”
“She forgave me for my dark moment. And yeah, we’ve been together ever since.”
That woman, Dominique Ruotolo, is far more than just an NBA girlfriend. She’s a track and field powerhouse. Born in Aarau, Switzerland, and raised in Newport Beach, California, Ruotolo became a standout athlete specializing in the triple jump.
She began her college career at the University of Oregon before transferring to USC, where she earned All-American honors, Pac-12 titles, and a place among the top triple jumpers in Trojan history.
A versatile star with Olympic dreams, Ruotolo is also known for her interests in art and languages. Her athletic resume includes a bronze medal at the 2017 USA U20 meet and appearances at international competitions. She’s not just part of Jaquez’s world—she’s building her own empire in the world of track and field.
The couple has since become a beloved pairing among fans. They made their first big appearance at the 14th Annual Miami Heat Gala, where Ruotolo joined Jaquez as his date. For Jaquez’s birthday, Ruotolo posted a sweet tribute calling him her “Goldie locks & pooks,” saying he’s “the best human I’ve ever met.”
It all started with a drunken draft night and a kind stranger. Now, it’s blossomed into one of the NBA’s most heartwarming young love stories.
