Jaime Jaquez Jr has proved to be a hidden gem to the Miami Heat, emerging as a surprise in his rookie season. According to the global rating tweeted by @hoopshype, the Miami Heat wing is rising the rookie ladder and officially declared the best performer of the 2023 draft class, leaving behind Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs), who has dropped one spot below Jaime Jaquez, while Chet Holmgren’s (Oklahoma City Thunder) ranking remains steady.
NBA News: Jaime Jaquez Declared The Best Performer Of 2023 Draft Class, Leaving Behind Victor Wembanyama
The NBA draft is not just about picking up young potentials but also analyzing their journey of becoming key players for their teams, and the value of high picks will not always guarantee an outstanding performance all the time. Likewise, Jaime Jaquez Jr. was the lowest drafted player in the group, picked at No.18 by the Miami Heat, and Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama, and Brandon Miller were all at least No. 2 picks, with Wembanyama being the No. 1 pick.
The Miami Heat wing is now officially the best performer in the 2023 draft class, according to the recent global ranking tweeted by @hoopshype. San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama has dropped one spot below Jaime Jaquez, while Chet Holmgren’s (Oklahoma City Thunder) ranking remains unchanged.
Jaime Jaquez has passed Victor Wembanyama as the best performer of the 2023 class, per HoopsHype's Global Rating.
(A reminder that this metric factors in team success to a great extent). pic.twitter.com/LZQ8v1AGMf
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) December 7, 2023
NBA Draft 2023: Jaime Jaquez Jr. Has The Spotlight
Jaquez Jr., at the moment, is averaging 12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Victor Wembanyama averages 18.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, followed by Chet Holmgren, averaging 17.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, and Brandon Miller with an average of 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in the 2023-24 Season.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been the only player from the Miami Heat to have played all the games this season. His year as a rookie has been quite fruitful as he keeps proving himself to be a seasoned player. With the Miami Heat having to deal with several injury reports this season for their first 18 games, Jaquez took this opportunity and stepped in to showcase his defensive prowess.
Making waves in the Association already 🌊
Jaime is the @Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month! pic.twitter.com/S0caP5Uto6
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 4, 2023
NBA Draft 2023: Steal Deals Of The Rookies
This year, other rookie players have also showcased their performance on the court exceptionally well. If we talk about Jordan Hawkins, who is currently averaging 12.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game this season, was picked by the New Orleans Pelicans at No. 14. Fans claim that he is the real “STEAL” of the NBA 2023 draft. Fans were initially skeptical about Hawkins’ contribution to the team before the season started.
As the season progressed, Hawkins proved to be one of the reliable “shooting threats” on the court. He is presently standing at 4th rank in the rookie list and earned praise for being “a rookie on the rise for New Orleans” from the 8-time All-Star Paul George.
"He's got like the Michael Redd, young Ray Allen [game]. Just sharpshooter."
Jordan Hawkins is a rookie on the rise for New Orleans 📈 pic.twitter.com/jUlymUlOT6
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) November 30, 2023
Similarly, if we talk about the other rookies on the list, like Dereck Lively II, with an average of 8.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, who was selected by the Dallas Mavericks at No. 12 in the NBA Draft 2023, also has been proven to be an asset for the team. Since the start of the season, he has consistently performed well and has earned recognition in the NBA as one of the top rookies in the league. Currently, he stands at the 8th position on the rookie list.
Fans are optimistic that these young players will continue to dominate throughout their rookie year. They have won everyone’s respect and are well-positioned to begin their careers successfully.
