{"id":90363,"date":"2025-08-17T08:43:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T08:43:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=90363"},"modified":"2025-08-17T08:43:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T08:43:06","slug":"heats-jaime-jaquez-jr-opens-up-about-his-challenging-adjustment-period-after-a-frustrating-2nd-season-where-he-struggled-to-find-his-footing-and-make-a-significant-impact-on-the-court-he-shar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=90363","title":{"rendered":"Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. opens up about his challenging ‘adjustment period’ after a frustrating 2nd season, where he struggled to find his footing and make a significant impact on the court. He shares his thoughts on what went wrong and how he’s working to bounce back stronger than ever."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"featured-image\"<\/p>\n

With the Miami Heat trading Haywood Highsmith to the Brooklyn Nets, that leaves a hole for someone in the rotation to get more opportunity, with one option being Jaime Jaquez Jr., entering his third season. As the Heat’s young forward is coming off a sophomore slump after an impressive rookie year, he would speak about the work he’s put in.<\/p>\n

Besides Jaquez having to work through his flaws, one of the aspects in his \u201cadjustment period,\u201d as he puts it, is putting into perspective the amount of changes that happen on a team through a few seasons. Besides Highsmith, players not on the team from last season anymore include Kevin Love, Duncan Robinson, Kyle Anders, and Alec Biurks.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s starting to become the reality,\u201d Jaquez said, according to The Miami Herald. \u201cI think your rookie year, you go through it and it\u2019s an adjustment. Now your second year, I think you really start to understand what it means to be in this business. Guys that you\u2019ve built a relationship with are no longer going to be there. It\u2019s definitely going to be an adjustment period, but we\u2019re just really excited to get new guys and have this new team and try to win games.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jaquez made the most of his opportunities in his first season in 2023-24, earning back-to-back Rookie of the Month honors and making the NBA All-Rookie first team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m feeling great right now,\u201d Jaquez said. \u201cI\u2019ve been doing a lot of work. I\u2019ve been in Los Angeles just training every day, and it\u2019s been great. It\u2019s been great to get away. It was good to be home for quite a significant period of time\u2026I\u2019m just super excited to get this season started and go win some games.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. on what he’s working to improve<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Heat's
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the Heat’s 2025-26 full schedule has been released, this upcoming season is no doubt crucial for Jaquez and his development, as it was apparent that in his regression, opposing defenses were figuring him out. Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned throughout the first two seasons that it would be a focus for Jaquez to adapt to other teams.<\/p>\n

Jaquez is known for his physical playstyle in driving down the lane and using contact to get the advantage at the rim, which was less effective last season. He would start to shoot from deep more, but it wasn’t always as efficient as last season, he averaged 8.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n

The UCLA product would say that he’s been delving into the film, honing his strengths, plus working on shooting and his defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust going back and watching some film,\u201d Jaquez said of what he has done this offseason to try to get his game back on track. \u201cI think that\u2019s a big one. Just remembering what it was that put me on the floor, what it was that got me to this position. Just kind of leaning into my strengths, as well as working on things that I need to work on, like shooting and defense. And just bringing it all together as a whole, I think, is one of the biggest things for me this offseason. I\u2019ve been doing a great job, my trainer out there is really helping me through this process, and it has been great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jaime Jaquez Jr. on the Heat trading Haywood Highsmith<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With the Heat’s young star looking to tackle the 2025-26 season with major expectations, his number might be called upon more due to the departures, as said before. Subsequently, with the recent news about Highsmith, it could lead to extended minutes from Jaquez, though it’s bittersweet for the 24-year-0ld.<\/p>\n

\u201cMan, it\u2019s kind of been like that this summer, this offseason. That\u2019s one of my good friends,\u201d Jaquez said Saturday morning before hosting a youth basketball camp. \u201cWe got to build a great relationship. I\u2019m just wishing him all the best in his career and with his time in Brooklyn. I really appreciate the time that we had playing together. Like I said, I\u2019m just wishing him all the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

At any rate, Jaquez and Miami are looking to improve after finishing with a 37-45 record, which put them 10th in the Eastern Conference. Consequently, the Heat open the preseason in Puerto Rico, facing the Orlando Magic on Oct. 4, and also open the regular season against the same team on Oct. 22.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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