Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s second season in the NBA has been a tougher road compared to his promising rookie year. Despite playing a significant role in the Miami Heat’s rotation last season, Jaquez has found himself out of the mix during their playoff series against Cleveland.
This shift in his role has been a tough adjustment for the young player, who had grown accustomed to steady minutes.
As Jaquez reflected on the situation, he acknowledged the frustration of not being on the court, especially given his competitive nature.
In an interview with the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang, he shared: “Obviously, it’s frustrating as a competitor. As a player, you want to be in the game playing. But seasons come with ups and downs. I think more than anything, you take it as a learning experience. It will help you grow as a player and as a person to go through adversity like this. If you make it out to the other side, then you’re going to see what you become.”
The challenges have been compounded by a dip in his overall performance this season. Jaquez averaged 8.6 points per game, a decrease from the 11.9 points per game he posted during his rookie campaign.
His shooting percentage also saw a decline, going from 48.9% last year to a lower figure this season.
Despite these setbacks, Jaquez remains focused on his long-term growth. He said, “There’s going to be struggles throughout your career. You don’t want to shy away from those. Obviously, there have been a lot of ups and downs with some bad luck with some illnesses and then obviously getting hurt.
“But I think it’s given me a great opportunity to just learn, learn a lot about myself and about the game and take this time to just continue to work on my craft, work on my routine and continue to get better as a professional.”
Heat Notes: Jaquez, Elimination, Herro, Adebayo, Anderson https://t.co/WGGB0qrsV3 pic.twitter.com/AbZY1vuWma
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 28, 2025
