Jaime Jaquez Jr. Excites NBA Fans as Heat Beat 76ers amid Embiid, Butler Injuries

Andrew PetersDecember 26, 2023

Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images

The Christmas Day matchup between the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers wasn’t star-studded with Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid both out, but fans still got a great show.

Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. continued to prove himself as a sleeper pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The UCLA product showed up in the absence of Butler, putting up 31 points and 10 rebounds. Jaquez’s big night led the Heat to an ever-important Christmas Day win over the 76ers, 119-113.

After Jaquez’s career high, fans had plenty to talk about on social media.

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynoldsMore Jaime: First rookie since Patrick Ewing, 38 years ago, to have a 30-point double-double on Christmas.

betr @betrJaime Jaquez Jr is COOKING the Sixers right now 😵‍💫

Steal of the draft? pic.twitter.com/Jx3ycVPZDo

Azfura @InThePaintFuraJAIME JAQUEZ JUNIOR ENTHUSIAST🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽

KIING OF BETTING 💎💎💰💵 @KiingBettingJaime Jaquez Jr playing like he getting a max deal next year already

Bray Wyatt Forever🕊️ @cocobeanwestJaime Jaquez Jr. is a veteran rookie. I don’t know how else to say it

The man has been here before #NBA

JaquezMuse @JaquezMuseThis really a Jaime masterclass

antonio @poorlifestylezjaime jaquez is a special player 🥺

Jason A. Bennett @JBennett_MediaI like Jaime Jaquez Jr. he’s hooping right now! Hardly any 4 year college players come in like that.

DMGRedux @DMGReduxJaime Jaquez Jr. is really turning into my favorite player. Absolutely love his game.

patreon.com/airbudspod @airbudspodJaime Jaquez Jr., welcome to the rookie of the year discussion.

AP @TheFan4LifeLet Jaime Jaquez cook.

Trey @TreyTheDreamerJaime Jaquez Jr. is gonna be a star in this league, it’s easy to see

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42The Heat have a good one in Jamie Jaquez Jr.

I had him no. 3 in the recent rookie rankings. pic.twitter.com/73JRCK3pR4

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynoldsJaime Jaquez Jr. is the 9th rookie in NBA history with at least 29 points on Christmas (and there’s still 1:55 left).

The others: Wilt (45), Walt Bellamy (35), LeBron (34), Bill Cartwright (33), Patrick Ewing (32), Oscar Robertson (32), Kyle Kuzma (31) and Adrian Dantley (30).

Silas P. Silas @KennySpenceNBAJaime Jaquez is doing some crazy stuff on the offensive glass

Kevin Marin @TheKevinMarinJaime Jaquez Jr when Jimmy Butler hands him the keys to the franchise pic.twitter.com/VuxWl0BVcS

Will Manso @WillMansoI’ve honestly run out of good things to say about Jaime Jaquez Jr. The draft isn’t an exact science, but I have no clue how he slipped so much as NBA ready and productive he is.

The Heat seemingly have an emerging star in Jaquez, and he proved that he can step up in big moments on Monday. He’s averaging 13.1 points per game, and his performance on Monday could inch him closer to joining the Rookie of the Year conversation.

Now, Miami is looking to keep Jaquez’s momentum rolling into 2024.