NBA DRAFT

June 22, 2023

Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Q. You mentioned to us yesterday that you had a great workout with Miami. Miami is the kind of team that was a little short on their rotation last year and it has one of the most complex schemes and playbooks. Do you think that getting somebody older and someone who's proven to be a smart player on the court had anything to do with their interest in picking you?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: I think so, maybe, probably. I don't know for sure. But I do know that when we had conversations, things that we talked about is me being an older guy and how that can be an advantage when you're looking at the draft.

I'm hoping to bring that experience and hope it works well. As much as I'm experienced, I know the NBA has a lot more to learn. So I'm very eager to soak it all in.

Q. Just wanted to ask you how special is this moment for you? You have a lot of Mexican people supporting you and super excited for you. What do you think about this specific moment?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: Incredible. Incredible. I think it's obviously a big moment for me, but I always say I'm trying to represent something a lot bigger than myself, the culture that I come from, the people that I grew up with, my family. Just to be able to represent that on such a massive stage is huge. I'm just so happy I get to be a part of it.

Q. Miami Heat actually got the opportunity to play in the México City game last season. Is that something that you will potentially be excited to do in the future?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: I would be extremely excited to do that, for sure. For sure.

Q. When you think about the biggest differences from the NCAA game to the NBA game, what are they, and how do you anticipate that maybe affecting your game?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: Oh, I think the two biggest things, it's a lot faster game. Shot clock is 24 seconds. I think the other big one is defensive three seconds in the key. I think it makes the game a lot faster-paced. Makes the court a lot wider, a lot of space to move and operate. I think that's probably the biggest difference going from college is obviously the shot clock and then the defensive three seconds.

Q. Obviously the Heat just finished competing in the NBA Finals. There will be a standard that they've already established. How do you see yourself fitting into that framework of trying to help them get back to that stage?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: I think just because I came from a high standard at UCLA, as well, four years, Coach Cronin, he set a standard. He set a standard that we tried to achieve my entire four years there, and I don't think it's going to be any different when I get to the Miami Heat. They have a culture, and when you're a part of a program or an organization with that high level of culture and winning, it's your job to sustain that and obtain it. That's what I'm looking forward to doing is continuing that legacy and continue that moving forward.

Q. You come from a family that's been playing basketball for three generations. You had your immediate family right next to you. Describe what that feels like, that you're a part of a family tradition of basketball coming from a Hispanic family, as well, and what was it like to have your family around you when the moment came?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: It was incredible. I was very happy that they were able to be there with me. They've been my biggest supporters my entire life. To be able to share that moment with them was really special.