Blinksportsnews247Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat is one of the NBA’s most divisive rookies.
And the triumph on Monday over the depleted Philadelphia 76ers was evidence of it.
He became the second rookie in the Heat’s history to record a double-double of 30 points and 10 rebounds. He made 73.3 percent of his shots and had no turnovers. Grant Long, a forward, was the first in the 1989 campaign.
Perhaps not the most amazing thing Jaquez has done in December is this. With 16.6 points per game this month, he is the highest scoring rookie. Chet Holmgren (15.8 points) and Victor Wembanyama (16.4 points), two huge guys of a generation, are right behind.
Jimmy Butler, a seasoned forward, has missed the last three games due to injury, thus Jaquez has had a chance to flourish. In every game, the 22-year-old has scored in double figures. He complements stars Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo’s trajectory, forming an intriguing future Big Three. Jaquez wants to help as much as he can right now.
The No. 18 pick has earned the full trust of coach Erik Spoelstra, who regularly plays him the whole fourth quarter. Prior to the draft, Jaquez’s readiness for the NBA and his experienced demeanor were his greatest advantages. When it matters most, he takes care of the ball with both of those tools at the forefront of his displays.
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