Jaime Jaquez Jr. Bio
Jaime Jaquez Jr., born on February 18, 2001, in Irvine, California, is an American-Mexican professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 225 pounds, he plays as a small forward and has quickly built a reputation as a hard-nosed, versatile contributor. Selected by the Miami Heat with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft, Jaquez became the only Pac-12 player chosen in the opening round that year and the first UCLA senior drafted in the first round since Darren Collison in 2009.
Jaquez comes from a deep basketball family and carries the nickname “Juan Wick,” a tribute to his Mexican heritage and a playful nod to the fictional character John Wick. Known for his crafty footwork, high basketball IQ, and relentless effort on both ends of the floor, he earned the Pac-12 Player of the Year award and consensus second-team All-American honors during his senior season at UCLA before making an immediate impact in the NBA.
Early Life and Background
Jaime Jaquez Jr. was born in Irvine, California, and grew up in the nearby city of Camarillo. He is the third generation in his family to play college basketball, a legacy that helped shape his early love for the game. His parents, Angela, née Sather, and Jaime Sr., both played basketball at Concordia University Irvine, where they first met. His paternal grandfather, Ezequiel, immigrated to California from Mexico as a child and later played basketball at Ventura College and Northern Arizona University, giving the family a rich and enduring connection to the sport.
Jaquez is of Mexican descent through his father and of Norwegian descent through his mother, and he holds dual American-Mexican citizenship. He is the oldest of three siblings. His younger sister, Gabriela, went on to play college basketball for the UCLA Bruins and was named co-MVP at the 2022 McDonald’s All-American Girls Game. His younger brother, Marcos, plays college football as a defensive lineman at Ventura College.
During his youth, Jaquez attended Adolfo Camarillo High School in Camarillo, California, and graduated in 2019. In addition to basketball, he also played as a pitcher on the school’s baseball team, showcasing his athletic versatility from a young age.
Path to Basketball
Jaquez first gained statewide attention during his high school career at Adolfo Camarillo High School. As a freshman, he averaged 15.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.6 steals per game, leading the team to a 25–7 record and an appearance in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) semifinals. In his sophomore season, he earned All-Ventura County second-team honors while averaging 24.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.6 steals per game, despite missing 12 games due to an ankle injury.
During his senior season, Jaquez averaged 31.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, guiding the team to a 25–4 record and its first Coastal Canyon League title. He received first-team All-CIF Southern Section honors, set a school single-game scoring record with a 54-point performance against Royal High School, and finished his high school career with a total of 2,653 points.
Jaquez was recruited to the University of California, Los Angeles, by then-Bruins’ coach Steve Alford, who offered him a scholarship at the end of his junior year. Alford was later fired in 2018 and replaced by Mick Cronin, who had recruited Jaquez while coaching at Cincinnati. Jaquez did not seriously pursue another school and remained committed to UCLA, where he would develop into one of the most decorated players in program history.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Jaquez became a starter for the UCLA Bruins during the 2019 Maui Jim Maui Invitational, recording 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 74–48 win against Chaminade on November 26. On December 1, he scored a season-high 18 points in a 93–64 win over San Jose State, and on February 27, 2020, he hit the game-winning three-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining in a 75–72 win over Arizona State. He concluded his freshman season averaging 8.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, earning an honorable mention to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.
On February 18, 2021, Jaquez scored 25 points on his 20th birthday in a 74–60 win over Arizona, helping the Bruins secure their fifth straight victory in the rivalry with the Wildcats. He was named a second-team All-Pac-12 selection and earned a spot on the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team. In UCLA’s First Four play-in game of the 2021 NCAA tournament, he led the Bruins with 27 points in an 86–80 overtime win against Michigan State, helping the program advance to the Final Four, where it ultimately lost 93–90 to Gonzaga on April 3.
UCLA Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Jaquez was restricted by ankle injuries throughout most of the 2021–22 season, suffering from synovitis in one ankle and beginning to wear braces on both ankles as a preventative measure. He bounced back from a three-game stretch in mid-February 2022 in which he scored a combined 13 points, and on February 28, he scored a career-high 30 points in a 77–66 win over Washington. On March 5, he scored 27 points in the regular-season finale against USC, helping UCLA end its five-game losing streak in the crosstown rivalry with the Trojans. He was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week after averaging 28.5 points on 64 percent shooting along with 7.5 rebounds, as the Bruins clinched the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 tournament. Jaquez was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and was voted again to the conference’s defensive team, finishing as one of five finalists for the Julius Erving Award, given to the top small forward in the country.
For the second straight season, Jaquez was named a finalist for the Julius Erving Award in 2022–23. On February 4, 2023, he recorded a game-high 24 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in a 76–52 win over Washington State, and he scored late baskets in multiple games to help lead the team to victories, including seven points in 3½ minutes as the Bruins secured a 78–71 win over Utah on February 23. He led UCLA to its first Pac-12 regular-season title since 2013, and the Bruins received a No. 2 seed in the 2023 NCAA tournament. In the opener on March 16, Jaquez recorded 17 points, eight rebounds, and a career-high five steals in an 86–53 victory over No. 15-seed UNC Asheville. Losing two starters, Adem Bona and Jaylen Clark, to injuries, UCLA concluded its season with a 79–76 loss to Gonzaga in the Sweet Sixteen on March 23.
For the season, Jaquez averaged 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds. He was named a consensus second-team All-American, received the Lute Olson Award as the college player of the year, and was voted the Pac-12 Player of the Year, becoming the first Bruin to win the award since Kevin Love in 2008 and the first UCLA senior to capture it since Ed O’Bannon in 1995. He ended his career ranked eighth in UCLA history in career scoring (1,802) and career steals (178), and ninth in total games played (134).
Miami Heat Era (2023–Present)
Jaquez was considered a borderline first-round prospect after his college career and received an invitation to the green room for the 2023 NBA draft. He was selected by the Miami Heat with the 18th overall pick and officially signed with the team on July 1. He participated in the 2023 Summer League but played only two games before a left shoulder injury sidelined him. Jaquez made his NBA debut on October 25, 2023, against the Detroit Pistons, scoring his first basket on a layup with 26 seconds remaining in the first quarter to tie the score at 26–26, and finishing with six points, two rebounds, and a perfect 3-for-3 mark from the field in a 103–102 victory. Three days later, on October 28, he made his first career start against the Minnesota Timberwolves, filling in alongside Nikola Jović for absent veterans Jimmy Butler and Kevin Love, and recording seven points and three rebounds in a 106–90 loss.
On November 30, Jaquez scored a then-career-high 24 points and grabbed five rebounds in a 142–132 win over the Indiana Pacers. He was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month on December 4, becoming the fifth Heat rookie to earn the award, and he earned a second consecutive monthly honor in December after a 31-point, 10-rebound performance in a 119–113 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on December 25. Jaquez was selected to participate in the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Challenge and the Slam Dunk Contest, and he concluded his rookie season having started 20 games and played in 75 of 82 regular-season games, the most on the 2023–24 Heat roster, averaging 11.9 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 48.9 percent from the field. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and finished fourth in NBA Rookie of the Year voting.
In the final game of the 2024–25 regular season on April 13, 2025, Jaquez scored a career-high 41 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a narrow 119–118 loss to the Washington Wizards, with the Heat suiting up only nine players as several rotation players sat out ahead of the play-in tournament.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jaquez has established himself as a crafty, high-IQ wing with an old-man game that belies his age, relying on footwork, body control, and a strong understanding of angles to score against longer defenders. He thrives in mid-range situations and uses his strength to finish through contact, while also contributing as a connective passer and a willing defender who can guard multiple positions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Jaquez’s career so far are his game-winning three-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining against Arizona State in 2020, his career-high 41-point game against the Washington Wizards in April 2025, and his selection to the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Challenge and Slam Dunk Contest. He is also one of only five Miami Heat rookies to win the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Career Wins
Jaquez’s win resume spans both college and professional play. At UCLA, he was a three-time All-Pac-12 selection, a two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive Team pick, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, and a consensus second-team All-American. In the NBA, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and has been a steady contributor for a competitive Miami Heat roster.
UCLA Highlights
Jaquez helped lead UCLA to the 2021 Final Four and the 2023 Pac-12 regular-season championship. His standout moments included a 27-point performance against Michigan State in the 2021 NCAA tournament First Four and a 30-point game against Washington in February 2022. He finished his UCLA career ranked eighth in program history in career scoring and career steals.
Other Wins & Performances
Jaquez represented Mexico at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, showcasing his international credentials before turning professional. His consistent development as a scorer and defender also earned him two Julius Erving Award finalist selections and the Lute Olson Award as the top college player of the 2022–23 season.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Basketball runs deep in the Jaquez family. His parents, Angela, née Sather, and Jaime Sr., both played basketball at Concordia University Irvine, and his paternal grandfather, Ezequiel, played at Ventura College and Northern Arizona University after immigrating to California from Mexico. Jaquez is the third generation in his family to play college basketball, and the tradition continues through his younger sister, Gabriela, who plays for the UCLA Bruins, and his younger brother, Marcos, who plays football at Ventura College.
Personal Life
Jaquez is of Mexican descent through his father and of Norwegian descent through his mother, and he holds dual American-Mexican citizenship. He is the oldest of three siblings and remains closely connected to his family, who have supported his basketball journey from his early years in Camarillo through his rise in the NBA.
2025 Season Performance
Jaquez entered the 2024–25 season looking to build on a strong rookie campaign and carve out a larger role within the Miami Heat rotation. Throughout the year, he continued to deliver scoring outbursts and versatile defense, highlighted by a career-high 41-point, 10-rebound performance in the regular-season finale against the Washington Wizards on April 13, 2025. That showing, even in a narrow 119–118 loss, underscored his ability to carry a heavy offensive load when the team’s rotation was stretched thin by injuries and rest decisions ahead of the play-in tournament.
As the Heat transitioned into the play-in portion of their schedule, Jaquez remained a focal point of the offense, providing crafty shot creation, secondary playmaking, and tenacious perimeter defense. His poise and two-way reliability earned him continued trust from the coaching staff, and his growth from a minutes-restricted rookie into a featured contributor became one of the defining storylines of the season for Miami.
Looking ahead, Jaquez is positioned to play an even bigger role for the Heat in 2025, with his confidence and production trending upward after a career year. His combination of experience, basketball IQ, and relentless motor makes him a central figure in Miami’s plans as the franchise continues to compete in the Eastern Conference.