When Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat was practicing for the Olympics with the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s Select Team, he was showered with praise.
According to reports from their coaches, Jaquez and Cooper Flagg—who is projected to be the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft—were the greatest players on the Select Team.
The fact that Jaquez has demonstrated his excellence since being selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft is fantastic news for the Heat.
Jaquez made an All-Rookie team in his debut NBA season despite being chosen with the 18th overall pick in that draft. He averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from outside the arc.
Jaquez might be one of the guys that takes on a more significant role in the 2024–25 season as a result of the Heat allowing Caleb Martin to go this offseason in free agency.
Coaches praised Flagg, a highly regarded talent who will play his freshman year at Duke University in the 2024–25 season, during his time with the select team this summer.
Jamahl Mosley, the head coach of the Orlando Magic, who also oversaw the Select Team, described Flagg as “a special young man.” “His skill level, basketball acumen, and toughness—he doesn’t back down in stressful situations and knows how to defend the hoop, make the right play, and read the situation.” He possessed everything.
Although Flagg is far younger than Jaquez, the Heat have already witnessed impressive results from their young forward.
It’s noteworthy that Flagg and Jaquez stood out above the rest of the Select Team, which included a number of other outstanding young players including Trey Murphy, Jabari Smith Jr., Keegan Murray, Brandon Miller, Jalen Suggs, and Flagg.
After appearing in 75 games and making 20 starts in the 2023–24 season, the Heat are expecting Jaquez to take a big step forward in his second NBA season. Both Jaquez and Nikola Jovic could wind up becoming Miami’s main forward options going forward because they both have the potential to be important assets.
In the 2023–24 season, the Heat qualified for the playoffs, but they were defeated by Boston in the opening round. When the 2024–25 season rolls around, Miami might be in a very different position if Jaquez keeps improving.