Before the 2023 NBA draft, the name on everyone’s mind was that of eventual No. 1 pick, Victor Wembanyama. And although he’s been outstanding so far in his first NBA season for the San Antonio Spurs – as has fellow Rookie of the Year candidate Chet Holmgren – another rookie who has been surprisingly great through the quarter mark of 2023-24 is Miami Heat swingman Jaime Jaquez Jr, the No. 18 pick in 2023.
Over his last 19 games, Jaquez is averaging 15.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the floor and 45.0 percent from beyond the mark, the latter mark being particularly impressive considering Jaquez got to the NBA with questions surrounding his shooting stroke.
What’s more, Jaquez ranks third league-wide in our Global Rating metric among rookies, trailing just the two aforementioned high draft picks, Wembanyama and Holmgren, so we thought it time to break down the impressive rookie’s game and figure out in what facets of offense he’s been excelling.
Let’s jump right in.