Jaime Jaquez Jr. Bio
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is a Mexican-American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins from 2019 to 2023, where he earned recognition as a consensus second-team All-American and was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year during his senior season. Jaquez was selected by the Miami Heat with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft. Known for his two-way play and scrappy style, he earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2024 and has become a key rotation piece for Miami. Jaquez is also recognized by the nickname “Juan Wick,” a moniker that reflects his Mexican heritage and a perceived resemblance to the character John Wick.
Early Life and Background
Jaime Jaquez Jr. was born on February 18, 2001, in Irvine, California, and grew up in Camarillo, California. He is the third generation in his family to play college basketball, continuing a strong family tradition in the sport. His parents, Angela Sather and Jaime Sr., both played basketball at Concordia University Irvine, where they first met. His paternal grandfather, Ezequiel Jaquez, immigrated to California from Mexico as a child and played basketball at Ventura College and Northern Arizona University. This deep basketball lineage helped shape Jaquez’s development from an early age.
Jaquez is the oldest of three siblings. His younger sister, Gabriela Jaquez, also pursued basketball at UCLA and was named co-MVP at the 2022 McDonald’s All-American Girls Game before being drafted by the Chicago Sky in the 2026 WNBA draft. His younger brother, Marcos Jaquez, plays college football as a defensive lineman for Ventura College. Jaquez is of Mexican descent through his father and of Norwegian descent through his mother.
High School Career
Jaquez attended Adolfo Camarillo High School in Camarillo, California, and graduated in 2019. 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 Adolfo Camarillo High School to a 25-4 record and its first Coastal Canyon League title. He received first-team All-CIF Southern Section honors and finished his high school career with a total of 2,653 points. Jaquez also set a school single-game scoring record with a remarkable 54-point performance against Royal High School. In addition to basketball, he also played as a pitcher on the school’s baseball team, showcasing his multi-sport athleticism.
Path to NBA
Jaquez was recruited to UCLA by then-Bruins head coach Steve Alford, who offered him a scholarship at the end of his junior year of high school. When Alford was fired in 2018 and replaced by Mick Cronin, Jaquez remained committed to UCLA despite the coaching change. Cronin had previously recruited him while coaching at Cincinnati, and Jaquez did not seriously pursue another school. He became a starter for the Bruins during the 2019 Maui Jim Maui Invitational after recording 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 74-48 win against Chaminade on November 26, 2019.
Jaquez 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. His performance in the 2020-21 season was highlighted by scoring 25 points on his 20th birthday in a 74-60 win over Arizona. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors and was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team. In UCLA’s First Four play-in game of the 2021 NCAA tournament, Jaquez led the Bruins in scoring with 27 points in an 86-80 overtime win against Michigan State, helping the team advance to the Final Four that season.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Career
College Career at UCLA (2019-2023)
Jaquez was restricted by ankle injuries throughout most of the 2021-22 season, suffering from synovitis and beginning to wear braces on both ankles as a preventative measure. Despite the setback, he bounced back strongly, scoring a career-high 30 points in a 77-66 win over Washington on February 28, 2022. He was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and was voted to the conference’s defensive team for the second consecutive year. Jaquez was also one of five finalists for the Julius Erving Award, given to the top small forward in the country.
For his senior season in 2022-23, Jaquez was again named a finalist for the Julius Erving Award. On February 4, 2023, he had a game-high 24 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in a 76-52 win over Washington State. He led UCLA to their first Pac-12 regular season title since 2013. 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 top college player, 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 with 1,802 points and ninth in career steals with 178.
NBA Breakthrough with Miami Heat (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 eighteenth overall pick, making him the only Pac-12 player chosen in the first round and the first UCLA senior to be selected in the first round since Darren Collison in 2009. He officially signed with the Heat on July 1, 2023.
Jaquez began the 2023-24 regular season on a minutes restriction due to a groin injury sustained during the preseason. He 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 and finishing with six points in a 103-102 victory. On November 30, he scored a then-career-high 24 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in a 142-132 win over the Indiana Pacers. On December 25, Jaquez achieved season and career highs with 31 points and 10 rebounds during a 119-113 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jaquez was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month twice during the 2023-24 season, first for October and November and again for December. He was selected to participate in the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Challenge and the Slam Dunk Contest. He concluded the season having started 20 games and played in 75 of the 82 regular-season games, averaging 11.9 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 48.9 percent from the field. Jaquez was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and finished fourth in NBA Rookie of the Year voting.
2024-25 and 2025-26 Seasons
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. The Heat had only nine players available for the game as several rotation players sat out ahead of the play-in tournament. In the 2025-26 season, Jaquez improved his production across the board, averaging 28.3 minutes and 15.4 points per game. He led the NBA in total bench points with 1,138 and finished second in voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, behind winner Keldon Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs.
Playing Style and Strengths
Jaquez is known for his versatile two-way play, combining offensive versatility with defensive tenacity. His basketball IQ and feel for the game were evident throughout his collegiate career, where he was twice named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team. His scrappy style of play and high-energy approach have translated well to the NBA, allowing him to contribute as both a starter and a sixth man. His ability to score efficiently from multiple levels and crash the boards makes him a valuable two-way contributor for the Heat.
Notable Events and Milestones
Jaquez’s career has been marked by significant milestones at every level. In high school, he set a school single-game scoring record with 54 points. At UCLA, he became the first Bruin to win Pac-12 Player of the Year since Kevin Love in 2008. In his rookie NBA season, he became only the fifth Heat rookie to earn Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors. His career-high 41-point performance against the Washington Wizards in April 2025 demonstrated his ability to take on expanded scoring responsibilities when called upon.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Career Wins and Honors
Jaquez has accumulated significant accolades across his basketball career at the high school, college, and professional levels. His achievements reflect his consistent excellence and development as a player from Adolfo Camarillo High School through UCLA and into his NBA career with the Miami Heat.
NBA Honors
Jaquez earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2024, representing the culmination of his transition to professional basketball. He finished fourth in NBA Rookie of the Year voting during his debut season. His strong play in the 2025-26 season positioned him as a leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, ultimately finishing second in the voting.
College Achievements
At UCLA, Jaquez was named Pac-12 Player of the Year and a consensus second-team All-American in 2023. He won the Lute Olson Award as the top college player that same year. He was a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2022 and 2023, a second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2021, and a two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive Team member in 2021 and 2022. He ended his UCLA career ranked eighth in school history in career scoring and ninth in career steals.
International Representation
Jaquez represented Mexico at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, as a Mexican-American dual citizen. This international experience added to his diverse basketball background.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Jaquez comes from a distinguished basketball family with multiple generations of college players. His father, Jaime Sr., and mother, Angela Sather, both played basketball at Concordia University Irvine, where they met. His paternal grandfather, Ezequiel Jaquez, immigrated to the United States from Mexico as a child and played at both Ventura College and Northern Arizona University. This three-generation basketball legacy has deeply influenced Jaquez’s development and love for the game.
Personal Life
Jaquez is the oldest of three siblings. His younger sister, Gabriela Jaquez, followed his footsteps to UCLA and was an accomplished basketball player herself, earning co-MVP honors at the 2022 McDonald’s All-American Girls Game. She was drafted by the Chicago Sky in the 2026 WNBA draft. His younger brother, Marcos Jaquez, plays college football as a defensive lineman for Ventura College. The Jaquez family has established itself as a multi-sport athletic family, with members competing at collegiate levels in both basketball and football.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season was a breakthrough year for Jaquez with the Miami Heat. He demonstrated increased confidence and expanded responsibilities within the team’s rotation. His most memorable performance came in the regular season finale against the Washington Wizards, where he scored a career-high 41 points and recorded 10 rebounds in a closely contested 119-118 loss. This performance came with the Heat managing player minutes ahead of the play-in tournament, giving Jaquez an opportunity to showcase his expanded offensive arsenal.
Moving into the 2025-26 season, Jaquez continued his upward trajectory, establishing himself as one of the league’s most productive bench players. He averaged 15.4 points per game while playing 28.3 minutes per contest, improvements across the board from his rookie season. His 1,138 total bench points led the entire NBA, demonstrating his consistent scoring production when coming off the bench. This performance earned him second place in the Sixth Man of the Year voting, solidifying his reputation as one of the league’s best two-way players who excels in a reserve role.