As questions persist about how Jaime Jaquez Jr. fits the long-term plans formulated by the Miami Heat, one truth has been steadily overlooked: He's already begun to put it all together. It's a development that requires a degree of nuance, but it's a captivating fact that must be considered.
Jaquez will need to sustain the form that he achieved, but he built momentum toward a significant leap in 2025-26 after the new year began.
Jaquez finished fourth in voting for Rookie of the Year in 2023-24, but struggled to secure consistent playing time in 2024-25. He averaged just 20.7 minutes per game, which marked a sharp decline from the 28.2 he played as a rookie.
The most common explanation for why Jaquez's minutes were cut was the fact that he shot just 31.1 percent from beyond the arc—down from his already inefficient 32.2 percent shooting in 2023-24.
The quiet story from the second half of the 2024-25 season, however, was Jaquez's profound leap forward as a shooter. It was right in line with a clear all-around improvement that showcased the extreme nature of his untapped potential.
That's great news for the Heat, which have a valid reason to believe that Jaquez can make the leap in year three and live up to his potential as one of the most well-rounded young players in the NBA.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. quietly found his jumper in 2025
Jaquez was objectively horrendous from beyond the arc during the 2024 calendar year, particularly during the 2024-25 season. He averaged 8.6 points in 21.5 minutes per game while shooting shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 25.5 percent from beyond the arc through Dec. 31.
After Jan. 1, however, Jaquez averaged 8.7 points in 20.3 minutes per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from distance.
The increase in efficiency from Jaquez inevitably coincided with a stellar display of his all-around ability. His averages during that time translated to marks of 15.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.3 offensive boards, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
That level of all-around production is the epitome of how Jaquez secured All-Rookie First Team recognition in 2023-24: By doing a bit of everything.
Jaquez's marquee performances included posting 41 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, and 16 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals, and a block. Beyond the peaks, however, was a more focused approach on executing in the manner in which his skill set permits.
Jaquez picked his spots as a shooter, prioritizing more of a downhill style of play—a wise decision considering he shot 51.3 percent on an average of 10.8 drives per 36 minutes in 2024-25.
As the Heat prepare for their first full season without Jimmy Butler, they must keep Jaquez's progress in mind. If he can sustain this efficient level of shooting, albeit with a limited volume distribution, Miami can turn that development into a new starting-caliber player.
It's an ambitious dream, of course, but Jaquez proved during the first half of 2025 that he has all of the tools to be a high-level all-around player—jump shot included.