What are the final stats of Jaime Jáquez Jr.’s first season in the NBA?

He ended the 2023-2024 NBA regular season with a Mexican basketball player as the protagonist. Jaime Jáquez Jr. was one of the names of the course: his powerful performances as the star rookie of the Miami Heat earned him multiple praise from the specialized press and fans. He was chosen twice as the best rookie in the Eastern Conference (November and December), broke the Mexican record for points in an NBA game (on Christmas Day, 31 points against the Philadelphia 76ers), and was part of the shortlist of candidates to win the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award, according to the NBA Rookie Ladder. In addition, he starred in the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star 2024, although he was eliminated in the first round. A drop in performance after the all-star weekend undermined his candidacy for the ROY, although he maintained his good performance. Despite the ups and downs, the final grade of the year is outstanding.

Jaime Jáquez Jr. is a Heat player who perfectly interprets Erik Spoelstra’s basketball system. He plays Heat-culture basketball, which involves making the extra pass, slowing down the game, circulating the ball, and setting high screens. His high IQ, developed during his four years at UCLA, adds to his value for the Heat despite being the 18th overall pick in the Draft. His stats don’t match his pick, but he has exceeded all expectations. He averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, with a 48.9% field goal accuracy, 1.0 steals, a plus/minus differential of 1.4, and an 81% success rate on free throws. He played 75 of 82 games (missing seven due to a thigh injury in January) and started 20.

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Miami Heat leader

Although the Mexican national team member entered the court from the bench on most occasions as a sort of de facto ‘sixth man,’ in reality, he was one of the Heat’s most consistent players throughout the season. Jáquez Jr. has the most appearances all year (75, above Bam Adebayo’s 71) and the second most minutes of action: 2,113, only below Adebayo’s 2,416. The physical problems of Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, and Caleb Martin, as well as personnel turnover (the departure of Kyle Lowry and the arrivals of Patty Mills and Terry Rozier), troubled Spoelstra for much of the season. One of the few constants was ‘Triple J’.

Jáquez Jr.’s performance and numbers will be enough not to opt for the ROY but to be part of the All-Rookie Team. It would be a milestone for Mexican basketball. No ‘tricolor’ basketball player has ever appeared in any end-of-season all-star team. Most of the forecasts in the specialized press envision an ideal quintet of rookies with the former UCLA, accompanied by Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets), Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs ), potential ROY winner. The distinction would be barely enough to decorate the great debut season of Jaime Jáquez Jr., who also closed with a nod to his best version: in the closing game against the Toronto Raptors, he delivered 18 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. And the best is coming: the Play-In, where the Heat will have two opportunities to enter the Eastern Conference playoffs. The baptism of fire awaits ‘Triple J.’