MIAMI — For years, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has listened as coach Erik Spoelstra has spoken about complementary Miami Heat pieces being ignitable.
After an uneven second season following his All-Rookie debut in 2023-24, the first-round pick out of UCLA decided to add some fuel to that fire.
Albeit a small sample size, what Jaquez has displayed during the Heat’s 2-1 start has shown that plenty still burns inside, including his 17 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench in Sunday night’s 115-107 victory over the New York Knicks in the home opener at Kaseya Center.
“This is my third year,” Jaquez said, “so I just try to lead these guys in the second unit and bring it every time. I always tell ’em, ‘We’re either going to be the spark or we’re going to be the gas on the fire for the team. So if we got to get a spark up; we’re going to do that. We’ve got to put gas on the fire that the guys already got; we’re going to do that as well.’
“So that’s kind of the motto I give to the guys.”
It is a concept as simple as the Heat’s move to an offense that minimizes play calls and maximizes the call to effort and energy.
“I’m just trying to bring that fire to this team,” Jaquez said, with the Heat turning their attention to Tuesday night’s visit by the Charlotte Hornets at the close of this two-game homestand. “We’ve got a lot of guys (who are) really quiet, a quiet group of guys. I’d say I am so myself, but sometimes you’ve got to bring that energy, get the guys going. And I’m taking pride in doing that this year.”
A year ago, Jaquez became somewhat lost in the wilderness as an off-the-ball wing. There is only so much energy one can deliver while being parked in the corner, spotting up for the 3-pointers that never have been his shot of choice.
Now, ball in hand, eyes on the rim, full speed ahead.
“I just give credit to the style of play that we’re playing,” he said. “We’re moving. We’re getting downhill. Everybody’s finding the flow and a rhythm, and it’s really easy for me to get in those gaps and make a play.”
No, Spoelstra did not go into the lab in the offseason solely with a focus on a Jaquez revival. But in conjuring something that would work for the entire roster in the post-Jimmy Butler era, a Jaquez happy place was crafted.
“Anything that gets him downhill and gets him aggressive, fits him,” Spoelstra said. “We just really had to clean up our spacing and the decision-making, to simplify things for him. And now just let him loose.
“He’s playing great basketball right now, playing super confident. I want him just to enjoy this right now. He’s making the right plays. He’s keeping it pretty simple. Even if he’s downhill, he’s keeping it simple. If they don’t cut him off on one or two spins, he’s scoring. If not, he’s making the appropriate play in the kickout. And that’s a credit to him with a lot of work on that, the playmaking and the film study. And he’s been a tremendous boost for that second unit.”
So Spoelstra didn’t necessarily start the fire.
It was always burning.
“He’s been playing great,” guard Norman Powell said. “He’s making the right reads when he gets in there, knowing when to be aggressive and get his shot off, and then knowing his post work and his midrange game is so elite and effective when he gets down there. They’re swarming on him and allowing him to make the kickout pass.
“He’s being steady getting in there, taking his time. And making his reads is big time for that second unit, especially when he gets in there and is kicking the ball out.”
Simple. Subtle. Satisfying.
“It’s just whatever I can do to help the team win is really what I’m all about,” Jaquez said, “whether it’s getting downhill, attacking the basket, whether it’s facilitating, whether it’s getting rebounds and playing defense. It’s really anything I can do to help the team win.
“We’ve got a lot of guys cutting and moving. It creates a lot of space and a lot of opportunities for myself to get into the paint and make a play. So really the style has just been a lot of fun.”
Originally Published: October 27, 2025 at 10:04 AM EDT