Jaime Jaquez Jr. Focused On Winning Championship Rather Than Rookie Of The Year

Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. believes focusing on an NBA championship will allow individual accolades to follow

Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s priorities are set less than one season into his NBA career.

Jaquez is among the contenders for the Rookie of the Year award behind Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs). Despite this, the 23-year-old rising star is looking to bring home a Larry O'Brien trophy to Miami rather than win the individual accolade.

"I would say the biggest accomplishment would be winning a championship. Bringing home a Larry O'Brien trophy home to the city of Miami, I think that's the main goal," Jaquez told Inside the Heat's Anthony Pasciolla. "Ya know, if you keep that the main focus, all the other individual accolades will come along with it, so I mean, that's not something I'm really looking to get. I'm trying to help win games. When you do that, everything else figures itself out."

Jaquez is averaging 12.8 points and 3.9 rebounds on 48.8 percent shooting through 50 appearances. His winning mentality is a valuable asset to any organization that the Heat are benefiting from early on. Jaquez consistently plays in clutch-time situations alongside Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro. 

The Heat have won three championships in seven NBA Finals appearances since 2000. It's safe to say the former UCLA Bruin is looking to contribute to the team that raises the fourth championship banner.

Although Jaquez will likely miss out on Rookie of the Year, there is a strong chance he earns a spot on the All-Rookie First Team.

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Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat.

He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @anthony.pasciolla.

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