The player review series is officially back! We are nearly one month removed from the conclusion of the 2024-25 Miami Heat season, which was one of the worst since the turn of the century. Over the next several (week)days, we will be reviewing how each Heat player performed throughout the 2024-25 season, recapping important numbers, best game(s) and their future outlook with the team. Today, we will be reviewing sophomore forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Let’s dive into it— and if you’ve missed any of our previous reviews, click below!
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Brief Overview:
2024-25 stats (66 games):
- 8.6 PTS
- 4.4 REB
- 2.5 AST
- 0.9 STLS
- 20.7 MIN
- 46.1 FG%
- 31.1 3P%
- 54.3 TS%
Unfortunately for Jaquez Jr., his second season in the association was a disaster. From being in and out of the rotation, to suffering a stomach bug that had him sidelined, all the way to the on-court struggles— it was all underwhelming. Despite his promising rookie campaign the season prior, it didn’t take long for opposing defenses to figure out Jaquez’s game and footwork. He was ultimately a shell of that once promising rookie self all season long.
Although he is still young and plenty of time left to turn things around, his struggles in the 2024-25 campaign could be enough for his Heat tenure to be short lived. He, along with a few other roster pieces, will likely be dangled in trade talks this offseason to improve the team.
Numbers To Note:
20.7 – After being an integral part of coach Erik Spoelstra’s rotation a year ago, it was a completely different story this season. In Jaquez’s rookie year, he played nearly 29 minutes. That number dipped all the way down to 20.7 minutes per game. In fact, there were several stretches where Jaquez received DNP’s, coaches decision. And in the games that he did get some action, he looked like a negative. His scoring and shooting touch around the paint took a gradual decline.
Additionally, his defense seemed to stay stagnant at best to his rookie season, if not also declined.
31.1 – Going into this past season, Jaquez voiced his goals on improving as a 3-point shooter. Instead of making progress as a floor spreader, he was even worse. His 32.2% rookie year efficiency from deep dropped to 31.1% this season. Evidently nothing went in Jaquez’s favor during this unfortunate decline. However, the 24 year-old did share on social media recently that he is officially working with personal trainer Chris Brickley— a well reputable shooting coach that most notably worked with Jimmy Butler.
Will it lead to Jaquez finally making that shooting leap? Only time will tell, but his track record has shown not to rely on that growth.
Best game?
In the Heat’s 2024-25 season finale, Jaquez went crazy with a career-high 41-point explosion. The game came on April 13, 2025 at home in a loss against the Washington Wizards. Most of Miami’s regular starters and rotation players sat for rest, which paved a way for Jaquez to have an opportunity to make a statement. It was an encouraging glimpse of what the full potential from Jaquez really could look like if given a consistent role with increased offensive responsibility.
Aside from the 41 points, he also showed a well rounded game with 10 rebounds, seven assists while shooting an impressive 68% from the field (17 of 25 overall).
What’s next?
Jaquez is still under contract to return to the Heat next season at a cheap price tag. However, his future with the team is still far from certain. Considering that he is still young enough to be an intriguing prospect, he is one of the Heat’s assets in trade talks. Regardless of his struggles, he is still far from his ceiling of development. If anything, perhaps that 41-point masterclass could have upped his trade value in a last ditch effort during that season finale. It is unlikely that anybody would target a trade soley for Jaquez, but he could be viewed as an attractive chip in a trade package.
Who the Heat ultimately pursue in such a package remains to be seen, despite a lot signs pointing to Kevin Durant.
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Goran Dragic 2.0 with a sprinkle of Manu Ginóbili. This kid is 19. He’s 6’6″ and a pretty good defender. High BBIQ. Not afraid to drive into the paint and shoot or dish.
He just needs physical maturity, skill and shot development, experience and time. A couple of years from now…watch out! G League year 1. Back-up year 2. 6th man year 3. Starter year 4. Worse case scenario…T.J. McConnell.
He should be available at #20. If he had played college basketball in U.S. instead of Europe, he might have been projected to go in the lottery. Check him out. Like “déjà vu”
BEN SARAF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXhZ6_4aMtU
the way ant man was shutdown its like ty and dunc were playing for okc.did anybody think of that
Year 3 will be critical for Jaquez. Having a season 2 sophomore slump happens. Having 2 in a row would be a real problem. I think he’ll be OK.
Make or break or trade year for him. He MUST develop a reliable 3 point shot so defenses won’t keep playing off of him daring him to shoot 3’s while protecting the paint. If he is no threat from 3, he is too easy to guard. He still hasn’t found his comfort zone where he can play at his tempo. He always seem rushed and out of control.
Maybe the biggest disappointment in the team, he regressed in everything. I m not sure, its all on him.
looked like the next dan majerle wtf happened to him
Majerle was a very good defensive player. Jaquez had a defensive rating of 111.9 last season, which is well above average. Here’s their career stats for comparison purposes:
Majerle: 31.6 mpg, 43.1 fg%, 35.8 3pt%, 4.5 rpg, 2.9 apg, 11.4 ppg
Jaquez: 24.7 mpg, 47.8 fg%, 31.8 3pt%, 4.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 10.3 ppg
I beg to differ with you. Terry Rozier was by far the biggest disappointment. He was supposed to be a reliable starting PG, a 15-20ppg scorer and a playmaker. While Jaquez was a disappointment, Rozier was a dismal failure, considering that his salary was over 6 1/2 times as much as Jaquez.
Maybe these stats will help convince you.
Rozier: $24.9M, 25.9 mpg, 10.6ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.6 apg, 39.1 fg%, 29.3 3pt%
Jaquez: $3.7M. 20.7 mpg, 8.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 46.1 fg%, 31.1 3pt%
Yeah, I forgot about Rosier.
Maybe I should say, JJJ is the biggest disappointment for me.
I m a big fan of young players. I m happy for every progress they made and sad for every setback happen to them.
Rosier was terrible, true, but that hurt me less then JJJ being worse then last year.
But otherwise, you are right. Rosier should be the greatest disappointment.
I understand. Same for me. I was expecting much more from him and Jovic and was also hoping Johnson and Dru would get more playing time. Dru got hurt early.
Johnson was signed to an NBA contract in December, but unlike Larsson, he got very little playing time. I think he has a ton of potential and will be competing not only for a rotation spot, but also a starting spot in the not-too-distant future. I picture him eventually becoming a Butler type player with more athleticism.
Jovic has the potential to become a very good wing player or power forward. He just needs to mature a little more, while working on his strength and his interior game. At his size, he should be pulling down 6-8 rebounds a game. He’s still young. He’ll be 22 on June 9th.
i beg to differ the quitter was the biggest disappointment.majerle jjj both whitesiders with ok athleticism gritty .wasnt jjj in dunk contest one year.
Yup, me too. Quitter ruined the whole season.
I forgot about the quitter. He was the most disappointing for a different reason. He allowed a personal and financial issue with Riley to control his professional behavior. Rather than toughing it out and proving his value as he said he was going to do, he went “Full Bitch Mode” and behaved in a manner that was detrimental to the team. He didn’t only quit on the organization, he quit on the team, the individual players and the fans. He revealed who he really was, not who had been pretending all this time to be. I’m glad he’s gone. His best days are behind him. I doubt he will ever experience what it is like to be a true champion. The one thing I will miss is the hair.