Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. has not only surpassed expectations as the 18th overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, he could potentially enter the history books by beating Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren for the Rookie of the Year award.
Jaquez. 22, is already having the best NBA season of any Mexican player in history, but if voting ended today, he has enough tape to claim the ROY award over the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder rookies.
Victor Wembanyama lands awkwardly over ball boy, walks away frustrated
On Monday, Jaquez became the fifth rookie ever to record a double-double while scoring at least 30 points in a Christmas game, which continued his monster month of November.
Jaquez was named NBA Rookie of the Month for November and has since earned a starting spot in the Heat’s lineup, but still shines off the bench when needed.
Can Jaquez beat Wemby and Chet?
Winning Rookie of the Year will be a tough task for Jaquez because the two favorites are precisely the first picks from the last couple drafts.
Jaquez will need to be head and shoulders above Wembanyama and Holmgren in all statistical categories to win the whole thing.
Wembanyama, 19, is averaging 18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, while Holmgren, 21, has averages of 17.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game played.
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