Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. had himself a Christmas Day to remember and shone for Miami in the absence of Jimmy Butler.
Jaquez recorded 31 points, ten rebounds, two steals and one assist to lead the Heat to a 119-113 victory over the 76ers on Christmas Day.
The comparison offered up by Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was to Jimmy Butler, because of the way Jaquez can create plays without dominating the ball or being given specific plays.
“It’s very similar when you say something like that about Jimmy,” Spoelstra said. “You wouldn’t do this with Jimmy, but Jimmy literally could just play the entire game without the ball and figure out how to get 20 points, without play calls, if you challenged him to do that.”
The young guard has played in just 30 NBA contests, but is looking like a seasoned veteran out on the court.
“I didn’t call one play for him tonight. Literally,” Spoelstra confirmed. “They were in a zone for most of the second half but throughout the rest of the game, I definitely did not call one play for him. He did it with offensive rebounding, transition, cuts, timely 3. A lot of plays in between. So you don’t really think that it’s a 30-point game.”
The number 18 pick became just the fifth rookie in NBA history to record at least 30 points and ten rebounds on Christmas behind Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Walt Bellamy, and Patrick Ewing.
“He kinda reminds me of Jimmy,” 76ers center Mo Bamba offered. “The way he’s pivoting, the way he’s trying to post up, the way he’s getting layups at the rim. I’ve watched him at UCLA for the last 2-3 years, and he’s fun to watch. I’m excited to watch him continue to develop.”
In a draft class full of bigs like Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren and Dereck Lively II, Jaquez is certainly one to watch.
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