Jaime Jaquez Jr. and his best season with the Heat in the NBA

The Mexican-American forward is a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year trophy thanks to his best numbers with the Heat.

In the absence of Jimmy Butler this season, the Miami Heat I had a big problem. Not only would it be absorbing the scoring quota of the now player of Golden State Warriorsbut also leadership for a team accustomed to reaching the postseason.

The Heat have reached at least the Play-in in seven consecutive seasons, including twice against the NBA Finalsin view of Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and Denver Nuggets in 2023, losing both times. Starting with the 2023-24 season, the year in which he entered Jaime Jaquez Jr. In the league, the team has won just one playoff game, in the first round, against the Boston Celtics.

Now, in the first full season without Butler, the team once again aspired to the playoffs, arriving at the Play-In in tenth place in the Eastern conference. The possibility of even being in this instance seemed like something laudable taking into account the injury to Tyler Herrowho was only in 33 regular season games.

Although Bam Adebayo (who scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards in a memorable game) and Norman Powell finished the season averaging more than 20 points per game, Jaquez excelled in multiple aspects. With important collaboration from the Mexican-American, Miami more than filled Butler’s hole during the regular season.

Jaquez, candidate for award

In 75 games during the season, Jaquez shined with career-high marks in categories such as points, rebounds, assists, blocks and minutes. He accumulated six double-doubles (five with rebounds and points, one with assists and points) and surpassed the 20-point barrier in a total of 22 games.

Jaime finished the season with 15.4 points, five rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, despite the fact that he started only one game in the entire campaign and with only 28 minutes per game. Despite this, in the betting, Jaquez is below San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson in the Sixth Man of the Year race.

Johnson played all 82 games this season, with 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Despite having lower numbers than the Mexican-American, the award is usually given to players who contribute to clubs with the possibility of winning the title. In that regard, the fact that Johnson is with the Spurs, a team that finished in the second seed in the West, with a record of 62-20, led by Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, inter alia.

Instead, Miami only reached tenth place in the East, despite having a winning record of 45-37 on the season, and depended on beating the Charlotte Hornets and later, the loser between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Orlando Magic to reach the first round of the playoffs. This Tuesday, the Hornets triumphed against the Heat by a score of 127-126 in an electric duel that went to overtime. Jaime scored 13 points and served as the team’s most important distributor, with eight assists. Regardless of the outcome of the votes, the forward’s future looks promising.

Jaquez’s new contract in sight

Next season will be the last of Jaquez’s rookie contract, who will seek to attract a better salary to establish himself as one of the important basketball players of the South Florida franchise. According to reports, it is estimated that he is currently projected to receive $90 million dollars for a four-year contract when the time comes to enter restricted free agency.

There is also the possibility that Miami will enter into talks with him beforehand to extend him and seek a contract that benefits Jaquez, but allows financial flexibility for the team later – taking into account that Herro, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell They will also be free agents after 2027.

Prior to this season where the Mexican-American took a step forward, his coach, Erik Spoelstraseemed to challenge him to continue developing during the offseason, a challenge that was clearly met.

“He has to work on some things and he will,” Spoelstra said before the start of this season. “Defend in open space, and in our system. The three-point shot, although he worked on that last summer. I think he will see great progress, and he came out of our camp shooting great,” he concluded.

For the first time in his career, Jaquez finished the season with more than 50% of his total shots made, even though his total number of shots increased. Without a doubt, Spoelstra placed his trust in the player before Butler left to fill the offensive gap, something that could pay off later.

The Jaquez family

The family union between Jaime and his sister Gabrielais such that the Heat player traveled to Phoenix last week to see her alma mater, UCLA, win the women’s national championship for the first time in history, with Gabriela as a key piece.

“She has the (national championship), and they selected her in the Top 5,” Jaime said after Gabriela’s selection at WNBA Chicago Sky. The question they asked was humorous, asking if Gabriela had “overcome” her brother, but in the end it is a sign of a growing Mexican-American dynasty in basketball.

Beginning in the upcoming NBA and WNBA seasons, the Jaquezes will become the first Mexican-American siblings to play side-by-side in both leagues. A total milestone, taking into account the promising future they have in their respective fields.

“I can’t tell you another person who is having a better week than her,” Jaime said. “She’s on top of the world right now, and she deserves it. I’m very happy for her,” he concluded.