Ranking the 5 best rookies in Heat history: Jaime Jaquez Jr. among elite company
By Brennan Sims
3. Jamie Jaquez Jr.
2023-24: 13.2 PPG 51 FG% 39 3PT%
We're a quarter into Jaquez Jr.'s debut season and got some Jimmy Butler-like flashes.
"[Jimmy Butler & Jaime Jaquez Jr.] are similar but they are different... They complement each other and they view the game similarly. That aways helps when you have high IQ players."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 14, 2023
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on Butler and Jaquez Jr's 2-man play 🗣
(via @ZachWeinberger) pic.twitter.com/9kGdmJCgQ2
Jaquez has a knack for getting to the line. He uses angles like a 10-year veteran. Switching levels while attacking the rim and putting defenders in uncomfortable situations is already an elite trait the rookie possesses. He's not careless with the ball and doesn't dribble the air out of it, wasting possessions.
Like Caron Butler, Jaquez is a do-it-all-all swingam with positional versatility. He's shooting the rubber off the ball on low volume, but defenses must respect his shot. He is already a willing passer looking to kick it to wide-open shooters off of his rim-attacks, similar to Jimmy Butler. Jaquez is also a stellar cutter who makes defenses pay for going to sleep. Only a few Heat rookies have played at this level, especially on a winning team, but this next player is one of those guys.