A Miami Heat star impressed NBA analyst Tim Legler with the way he changed his game from last season.
The Miami Heat surprised many with a 2-1 record after the first three games, and many felt they were going to start the NBA season with a series of blowouts.
Tyler Herro’s injury this summer reinforced that belief. But the Heat showed they can be dangerous without Herro.
One notable aspect of the Heat’s preseason was how demanding Erik Spoelstra was of his young stars.
Spoelstra asked a lot from Jaime Jaquez Jr., especially after a difficult sophomore season. And it looks like the young star is back in action.
Tim Legler talked about Jaime Jack Jr. and the Miami Heat on the All-NBA Podcast. When Legler analyzed his start to the season, he was relieved to see him getting back into shape.
Legrel admitted there was concern about Jaquez’s poor performance last season. However, he bounced back very well and showed off his effort and athleticism while helping the Miami Heat this season.
“I was really worried that this guy was going to go to a place in a few years where we wouldn’t even know him. Last year he looked so heavy and lackluster. He didn’t look confident. He didn’t really look confident.”
“I was shocked because I loved his rookie year, his maturity, the trust they had in him to finish games and how smart he was on the court and how versatile he was on either end and how responsible he was.
“And last year, I was like, ‘Wait a minute.’ Great rebound. Great comeback. This is a guy who put in a lot of work in the offseason.”
“He wants to be a player that can make his mark in this league, and he’s had a long career of being highly productive and winning. I think he’s got himself back on track.”
To start the season, Jaime Jaquez Jr. is averaging 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and shooting 71.0% from the field.
Spoelstra praised the craftiness of Jaquez Jr., who scored 17 points while taking a lot of shots himself after the win over the New York Knicks.
In addition to that, his five assists helped give his teammates a clean look during the match. This is the version of Jaquez Jr. the Heat have wanted to see for over a year.
If Jaquez Jr. continues to perform well off the bench, he could be a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year in April.