Former Bruin receives big minutes for Miami Heat

On By Littum

Former UCLA Bruins guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. is off to an impressive start to his second NBA season with the Miami Heat, where he was drafted 18th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. As his career grows, so does his time on the floor, currently playing big minutes for a storied franchise.

Jaquez is averaging 21.1 minutes per game. match and 8.3 points per match from the bench. He has filled the role of being one of the first guys off the bench to come in and make an impact. The Heat are currently 14-13 and sixth in the Eastern Conference, hoping to make the playoffs again.

After a four-year career with the Bruins from 2019 to 2023, where he helped lead the Bruins to a Final Four appearance and helped them to a PAC 12 regular season title in his senior season. He averaged 13.4 points per game. game in his career with an impressive 47.5% field goal percentage.

The Camarillo, Calif. native surpassed 1,000 career professional points during this season and has been a pleasant surprise in the league. At 6-6, 225 pounds, Jaquez has the size and ability to be a big threat for opposing teams. He is heading in the right direction with more action.

After his time in Westwood, many wondered when the production would happen Jaquez would have at the big league level or at all. He’s proven the doubters wrong ten times over, settling in as a guy who looks to have a bright future ahead of him with a few championships mixed in as well.

Much of the credit goes to Bruins head coach Mick Cronin, who coached Jaquez throughout his collegiate career. He helped develop the young athlete early in his career, and when it was time for him to leave, Jaquez was already NBA-ready because of the coaching he received.

The Heat will likely grab one of the eight spots in the playoffs this year, and Jaquez will be tasked with playing a bigger role than last year, with the ball in his hands a lot more. He has provided a much-needed spark off the bench with a season-high 19 points early in the season.

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