The Miami Heat is looking for an internal improvement going into the 2024-25 season. Undoubtedly, the Heat’s management and players have already chalked out their blueprints for the next season. With a strong command from captain Bam Adebayo and their rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr.‘s versatility, things should hopefully fall into place. However, injuries have become a forever companion for the team. Precautions will be necessary as the same roster from last season takes the court. This season is going to be thrilling!

Amidst the offseason refueling, the Heat’s shooting guard, 23-year-old Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been quite busy. Holidays and training have made his time away from the NBA courts highly productive. Jaquez has been practicing to be lethal on both ends of the court. “My three-point shooting, that’s an area that I wanted to improve. I feel like I needed to improve if we wanted to, as a team, make the strides and jumps that we need to try to win a championship,” Jaime told the Miami Herald.

Having earned a place in the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first season with the Heat, Jaime Jaquez Jr. knows he’s a crucial player on the team. Therefore, he’s willing to go the extra mile to make his physique better for the sake of the Miami Heat‘s overall performance. Moreover, Jaquez knows what he’s signed up for after experiencing the USA Select Team’s training firsthand. So, fitness and performance are a must in the NBA and basketball.

Continuing his conversation with the Miami Herald, Jaime Jaquez expressed his plans for his body. “The season is very long, it’s grueling,” said Jaquez. He will be earning $3.7M this season in the second year of his rookie contract. “You talk to some of the veterans about how much they take care of their body and what they eat, and I think just trying to change my diet,” the 23YO added. He is willing to switch to organic food as is very healthy and wants to try implementing that as a lifestyle. Impressive!

It seems like the rookie is willing to invest his salary into working on his health. Well, it is a great step given how dedicatedly he wants to perform for the Heat. Moreover, his emphasis on a better sleep schedule and healthy routine says that Jaquez is giving fitness a lot of attention currently. Amidst all these revelations, the Heat’s Captain Bam Adebayo has some kind words of praise for his junior. Let’s see what he said.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. earns the Captain’s compliments ahead of the training camp and preseason

Despite the overall disappointment of the Miami Heat last season, Jaime Jaquez Jr. shined like the brightest star. The Heat selected him 18th in last year’s draft after his four-year college career at UCLA. As a rookie last season, Jaquez averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists. The small forward won the first two Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards. He also made the NBA All-Rookie First Team as the seventh Heat player. Such brilliant first-season records have impressed Bam Adebayo.

“Jaime has been showing us that he can play, that he belongs in this league,” Heat captain and three-time NBA All-Star said. The 27YO center further added, “I feel like that’s the one thing that can be a high compliment if you look at it the right way. Somebody saying you belong in the NBA and he’s shown that he’s continuing to show that.” Adebayo said Jaime Jaquez Jr. continuously proves he belongs in the NBA and deserves his spot. Moreover, his zeal to assess himself is commendable to the Captain. “He’s not scared to go into any battle against anybody,” concluded Bam Adebayo.

Well, the Miami Heat picked a true gem from the rookie pool last season. Jaime Jaquez’s versatile gameplay and his hunger for improvement will matter a great deal for the team. Moreover, the trust he’s gained from the Captain himself. Undoubtedly, the 23YO shooting guard is here to stay and take over the NBA world in years to come.