Jaime Jaquez Jr. reflects on making most of rookie season

MIAMI — The sense almost from day one was that the Miami Heat found the right player at the right time in the first round of last year’s NBA draft.

If anything, the notion was confirmed shortly after the final day of the season, when Jaime Jaquez Jr. addressed his rookie season.

For all that had transpired since being selected No. 18 out of UCLA last June, Jaquez opened his exit interview stressing that he appreciated that more would be needed going forward, that maintaining health would be crucial in building on his rookie success.

The comments came three days before Heat President Pat Riley made player availability the theme of his postseason comments.

That drive and perseverance had Jaquez on Monday becoming the first Heat draft pick to be named first-team All-Rookie since Michael Beasley in 2009.

“I would just say the biggest thing I would take away from this season is learning the importance of just taking care of your body, and your health and your mind,” Jaquez said. “I think that’s probably the biggest thing to learn, that it’s a long season. Your health is very important, mental, physical, so always got to keep that in check.”

Understand, Jaquez probably was the last player Riley was addressing when he spoke of availability, with the 6-foot-6 wing appearing in a team-high 75 games during the regular season.

No matter. Jaquez arrived with personal expectations closer to that of a lottery pick, closer to those of lottery-selected All-Rookie leading candidates Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren and Brandon Miller.

“It’s been great just having such an experienced group of veterans around me that have so much experience. To be able to learn under them and to take what they’re giving me has just been huge,” Jaquez said, in giving credit for his rookie success to teammates Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, among others. “And I think it’s given me an advantage being able to play in my rookie season and just learning from guys like that.”

Rounding out 2024 NBA first-team All-Rookie beyond Jaquez were 2024 Rookie of the Year Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs big man; Holmgren, the Oklahoma City Thunder big man; Miller, the Charlotte Hornets wing; and Golden State Warriors wing Brandin Podziemski.

In the weighted media balloting conducted prior to the playoffs, Jaquez received 89 first-team votes and 10 second-team votes, receiving votes from all 99 media members involved in the balloting.

Named second-team All-Rookie on Monday were Dallas Mavericks big man Dereck Lively II; Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson; Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George; Oklahoma City guard Cason Wallace; and Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II.

Voting was not position specific.

In being named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for October/November and December, Jaquez became the fifth Heat rookie to win the award, joining Beasley, Caron Butler, Josh Richardson and Kendrick Nunn, and the third to do so multiple times (Butler four times, Nunn three).