Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. has wasted no time channeling motivation from a perceived slight: the Miami Heat’s lack of national attention in the 2024-25 NBA season. Despite the team’s deep playoff run last year, the Heat have been scheduled for only a handful of nationally televised games, a decision that has left Jaquez and his teammates feeling overlooked by the league and media. Jaquez, known for his competitive fire, expressed his thoughts on the matter, seeing the limited exposure as a challenge for the team to prove itself.
“That’s what the NBA thinks of us,” Jaquez said during a recent interview. “We went to the Finals last year, and they still don’t think we’re worth putting on national TV. That’s fine, though. We’ll use it as fuel.”
The Heat’s Cinderella run to the 2023 NBA Finals as an eighth seed captivated fans, and Jaquez joined the team during the offseason, eager to make an impact. Drafted 18th overall out of UCLA, Jaquez brings a winning mentality and a hard-nosed playing style, traits that fit perfectly with Miami’s gritty, Heat Culture” ethos. Now, he finds himself even more motivated to help the Heat make a statement, even if most of their games won’t be aired on the NBA’s biggest stages.
Jaquez’s comments reflect the mindset of a player who’s ready to embrace the underdog role. “It’s up to us to show the world that they made a mistake,” he said. “We’re not here for the spotlight, but when the time comes, people are going to see what we’re about.”
For Jaquez, the lack of national attention adds another layer of motivation as he embarks on his rookie season with Miami. With the Heat historically thriving when doubted, Jaquez’s attitude aligns with the team’s collective desire to outperform expectations and demand the respect they feel they deserve on the court.