Jaime Jaquez Jr was one of the good moves of the 2023/24 season. Drafted in 18th position by the Heat, the guard/winger gradually made his mark in the NBA to the point of being integrated into the “Select Team”, brought in to play “sparring partners” for Team USA ahead of the last Games Olympics in Paris.
The potential of the 23-year-old player is obviously of interest to the American and Mexican federations, with Jaime Jaquez Jr. being eligible to play for one of the two selections. He had already participated in the Pan American Games with the Mexican selection when he was 19 years old, but his presence within the “Select Team” was more than a call on the part of Team USA.
The Mexico City Game last night against Washington was an opportunity to ask him the question again. For the moment, the person concerned has not yet decided.
“No, I haven’t made my decision yet,” he declared. “You know me and you know my journey. I was born in California, I grew up there, doing basketball camps in the United States. Then of course, I played for Mexico during the Pan American Games. After that, I took a step back from the national teams. I understood the pressure it could bring around me, and the way the fans might react to going from Team USA to Mexico.”
On the other hand, the Mexican selection would allow him to benefit from greater exposure relatively quickly, while the process that could bring him to Team USA would necessarily be more difficult and take more time. The more the Miami player takes his time, the more we could understand that he possibly leaves the door open to the United States federation. For the moment, the issue is in any case not a priority.
“It will be a personal decision, based on how I feel, and also what my family thinks. I consult them for almost everything I do. So when the time comes, I will be ready to make my decision. But right now I'm just focused on the Miami Heat.”he concluded.
| Jaime Jaquez, Jr. | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 75 | 28 | 48.9 | 32.2 | 81.1 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 11.9 |
| 2024-25 | MIA | 5 | 25 | 37.8 | 50.0 | 53.8 | 2.4 | 5.2 | 7.6 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 9.4 |
| Total | 80 | 28 | 48.2 | 33.2 | 79.3 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 11.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
