Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) drives on San Antonio Spurs forward Devin Vassell (24) during an NBA preseason game at Kaseya Center on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, in Miami, Fla. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Ask Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. about how last season went for him, and he’ll give you a very honest assessment.
“It was a very frustrating last year,” Jaquez said.
Jaquez’s second NBA season didn’t live up to the high expectations he created for himself after being named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team. Jaquez’s production dipped across the board last season, and he even eventually dropped out of the Heat’s rotation in the final weeks of the season.
Jaquez averaged fewer points (8.6 per game last season compared to 11.9 per game his rookie season) while shooting a worse percentage from the field (46.1% last season compared to 48.9% his rookie season) and three-point range (31.1% last season compared to 32.2% his rookie season) last regular season than his rookie season. He also averaged 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.9 steals per game in 66 regular-season appearances (17 starts) in his second NBA season.
“You don’t want to dwell on it too much, but I take it as an opportunity to learn,” Jaquez said, looking back at his rough sophomore NBA season. “Those moments when you’re not feeling like your best, it’s a time for reflection and growth. And that’s what this summer was about for me.”
An offseason to reflect, reset and grow has done Jaquez well.
Jaquez, 24, has been among the league’s top bench players through the first week of the season, averaging 15.7 points, seven rebounds, four assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting an ultra-efficient 71% from the field through the Heat’s first three games in a sixth-man role.
Jaquez is thriving in the Heat’s revamped uptempo offense, as he has been put in more of an on-ball role who’s tasked with running the bench lineups. With the Heat’s new-look offense built around paint attacks and spacing, Jaquez’s main responsibility has been to get downhill and in the paint to create offense for himself or force the defense to rotate and make plays for others.
It’s a role that Jaquez has excelled in during the first few days of the season, as he entered Tuesday night’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets at Kaseya Center shooting 10 of 13 (76.9%) on drives to the basket. He has also generated five assists on his drives through the Heat’s first three games.
“I think anything that gets him downhill and gets him aggressive fits him,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We just had to really clean up our spacing and the decision-making to simplify things for him, and now just let him loose. He’s playing great basketball right now, playing super confident. I want him just to enjoy this right now.”
Jaquez is definitely enjoying it.
“Getting downhill, we’ve got a lot of guys cutting and moving,” Jaquez said. “It creates a lot of space and a lot of opportunity for myself to get into the paint and make a play. Really, this style, it’s been a lot of fun. And that’s the most important thing, we’re having a good time.”
For Jaquez, that is one of the most important things because last season was not fun for him. He found himself getting away from what made him one of the NBA’s top rookies — his exquisite footwork in the post and paint attacks — and trying to prove he could also serve as a spot-up three-point shooter.
Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) dunks the ball during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks at the Kaseya Center in Miami on October 26, 2025. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Not only did Jaquez shoot just 31.1% on threes (37 of 119) last season, but NBA tracking stats say that 111 of his 119 three-point attempts last regular season were either open or wide open (defender at least four feet away) with teams consistently helping off of him and daring him to take outside shots.
“I was putting pressure on myself to, I don’t want to say be something that I’m not, but I don’t really know another way to put it,” Jaquez admits. “Not trying to be something that I’m not, but just remember what got me to the point that I’m at. Just like I said, leaning in on my strengths, what got me here, and keeping that my focus. You still want to add things to your game. But just still adding those levels, but not forgetting what got you to this position.”
After averaging nearly two three-point attempts per game last season, Jaquez is focused on getting to his strength zones this season. Through the Heat’s first three games this season, 21 of Jaquez’s 22 made field goals and 25 of his 31 field-goal attempts have come from inside the paint.
“I just stopped putting pressure on myself to make or miss threes,” Jaquez said. “If I make it or miss it, stop letting it affect me. I think last year, I was trying to put too much emphasis and pressure on myself to try to just be that. This year, I’m just focusing on my strengths. And one of those strengths is just getting downhill, creating for my team and sometimes for myself and whatever that may be.”
Jaquez also worked with a mental coach this past offseason in hopes of entering this season with a clear mind.
“I think the biggest emphasis for me was just recognizing how to keep my mind organized and not cluttered,” he said. “Not focusing on a million things at once. Just focus on my main details, my main strengths, positive reinforcement, all that good stuff. Just working on focus.”
Spoelstra has already noticed the results from all of Jaquez’s offseason work.
“Jaime has been in a really good place all summer long. He spent a great deal of time in L.A. and a significant amount of time in Miami,” Spoelstra said. “He came into camp really prepared, clear mind, and I think now the way we’ve set things up just really plays to his strengths.”
Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) battles New York Knicks guard/forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the first half of their NBA basketball game at Kaseya Center in Miami on October 26, 2025. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
It also helps that Jaquez is healthy after dealing with nagging ailments last season that kept him from finding a rhythm.
“I had some better spurts throughout the season, and then I got hurt,” Jaquez said, again looking back at his shaky second NBA season. “And then I felt like I was getting back, then I got sick and there were just a lot of ups and downs. It felt like I was getting my time back. But I’d have a good game and be out. Just kind of remembering, I’m going through this, but it’s not the end of the world. I’m still blessed, having gratitude for where I am. Recognizing my blessings I think is the biggest thing.”
Jaquez is refreshed and again focused on the right things after a productive offseason.
“It’s just whatever I can do to help the team win,” he said. “That’s really what I’m all about. Whether it’s getting downhill, attacking the basket, whether it’s facilitating, whether it’s getting rebounds and playing defense. It’s just really anything I can do to help the team win.”