Jaime Jaquez’s impulse decision’ has fans floored by Heat rookie’s new look

Naturally, Heat fans are reacting:

its.will21 – “Bro went from 78 to 63 overall”

charles_def_a_goober – “bro just went back to his 20’s in like one shave ”

trippydre – “His name just Jr. now”

ncrews05 – “Look like Josh Giddey brother”

understated.kevin -“bros cooked”

elliott.e927 – “Looks like a dude named chad”

juterrell – “Foo is a young Lou Diamond Phillips”

While it’s definitely a major change for the Heat rookie, there’s plenty of time for his trademark facial hair to grow back before he’s playing in front of fans again next season.

Jaime Jaquez had strong rookie season for Heat

It was a successful first year for rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. who was taken with the 18th overall pick. Possibly the steal of the draft, he averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting a solid 48.9 percent from the floor.

Jaquez did have to manage an ankle injury late in the season. He spoke with ClutchPoints about navigating the injury.

“I’m feeling good right now,” Jaquez said in late March. “I’ve been taking a lot of time with the trainers, doing everything I can to get my body in a prime position that it needs to be in, but I’m feeling great right now, they’ve been doing a great job with me and I’m feeling good.”

“This is what we’re paid to do is play basketball,” Jaquez continued. “So trying to get out there as fast as I can, especially, things are bothering me and even if they are, still trying to play through little injuries. I mean, it’s not just me, it’s everybody around the league, it’s just that time of the year, 82 games is a long season. And this is where the mental toughness comes in.”

Continued Jaquez on the Heat and their injury issues, “There’s hurdles throughout the season, injuries are one thing that we have to deal with this team along with the rest of the entirety of the league. So with this team, we try to come together, when guys are down, next man up mentality and just give it everything we got.”

It was a solid and productive first season for Jaquez as he became an instant contributor to the Heat. As Miami looks to retool and make a deeper push into the NBA Playoffs next season, Jaquez will be relied on to do even more for the team with a full season under his belt.