Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. Reveals Why He’s Happy Lakers Didn’t Draft Him

Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. is happy the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t draft him.

Jaquez Jr. grew up in California and went to school at UCLA, so he wanted to leave Cali and experience something new.

“I wanted to get away,” Jaquez Jr. said, via Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I think, for myself, I thought it was important for me to be able to go out of my comfort zone and experience something new. I didn’t want to be a guy that said, ‘Oh, I just stayed in Southern California all my life.’ I wanted to go live in a different, new place. And that’s why I was very excited to go to Miami. It was new. Everyone compares it, but I think it’s very, very different.”

The Lakers had the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and selected Jalen Hood-Schifino out of Indiana. Meanwhile, Jaquez Jr. landed with the Heat, who had the 18th overall pick.

The Lakers made a huge mistake passing on Jaquez Jr., who is averaging 13.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists for the Heat in 32 games. Hood-Schifino has only played in seven games this season. He’s averaging just 2.6 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists.

Jaquez Jr. is shooting 50.6% from the field, 36.5% from beyond the arc and 85.7% from the free-throw line. He has one double-double and the Heat are 19-13 when he plays.

Jaquez Jr. is fourth among rookies in points per game, ninth in rebounds per game, seventh in assists per game, third in total points, fourth in total assists, second in total steals and third in field goals.