The Miami Heat have 17 games left in the regular season and according to FanDuel Sportsbook, Jaime Jaquez currently sits as the fourth favorite to win the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Jaime has been playing some great basketball lately, and the Miami Heat are surging at the right time, so it might be time to take another look at his chances of winning the award.
A Huge March Stretch for Jaquez
The Miami Heat have caught fire during the month of March, winning five games in a row, and Jaquez has been one of the biggest reasons why.
Over his last five games, the second-year forward has averaged:
18.4 points
4.6 rebounds
5 assists
He’s also been extremely efficient, shooting 50.8% from the field and 53.8% from three-point range during that stretch. That kind of production off the bench is exactly the type of momentum that can push a player into the national award conversation.
A Post-All-Star Break Turnaround
Jaime is having a bounce-back year after he had a disappointing “sophomore slump” last season. He has been very solid all year long, but since the All-Star break, Jaquez has looked much more confident. Most notably, his outside shooting has taken a major leap. Is this sustainable? We will see, but before the All-Star break, Jaquez was shooting 36% from three. Since then, that number has jumped to 39.1%, giving the Miami Heat another reliable floor spacer for the time being. The improved shooting has opened up the rest of his offensive game, something Miami has leaned on heavily during this winning streak.
More Than Just a Scorer
While the scoring numbers are impressive, Jaquez’s impact goes well beyond putting the ball in the basket. Among players who have appeared in at least 20 games off the bench, Jaquez currently leads the group with a 15.3 scoring average, while also shooting 51% from the field and averaging five rebounds and five assists. During this stretch, he has also become one of Miami’s most important playmakers.