CASTROL RISING STARS POSTGAME

February 14, 2025

Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Team T

Press Conference

Q. It's kind of been a regular thing in your career for you to be here. What's the second time been like, All-Star Weekend for you?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: It's been a lot. The first time it's like a back to back to back. Busy weekend. But tonight was a lot of fun, being around all these guys, same draft class. It's cool to be able to catch up with them midway during the season, see how they're all doing and build that relationship outside of basketball.

Q. Are you excited to see the format with the All-Stars on Sunday and how they react to that format?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: Yeah, I'm very excited to see. I think it's going to bring a whole new dynamic, I think a new energy, a new life to this All-Star Weekend. Looking forward to it.

Q. What are your immediate goals coming out of the break after taking a few days off? What are the immediate team goals?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: Immediate team goals is to get back on a winning streak. That's number one. I don't think we finished the break at all the way we wanted to. So coming back after the break, it's a new mentality that we have to have as a team.

Q. There's a lot of celebrities, a lot of former players, Hall of Famers. What do you think catches you the most off guard just seeing walk around All-Star Weekend?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: That's a good question. It's my second time here, and being around the league for a little while, you see a lot of people -- especially in Miami, you see a lot of different people at the games.

I guess the one that caught me most off guard -- I don't know. I don't know if anyone that's caught me off guard yet. I'll say this: The one time I was ever caught off guard I was in Miami at the Dior store, and I saw J. Cole there. It was funny because I was there for my pre-draft workout before I got drafted to the Heat. I was just walking around. I was in the dressing room and I walk out and I was like, oh, s--- that's J. Cole. He looked at me and I looked at him, and it was just a really awkward interaction because I just said -- first thing that came to my mind and dapped him up, and I got out of there. Shout-out J. Cole, man.

Q. Thoughts on Stephon Castle.

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: Yeah, man. He's a great player. He's having a great season. He can do so many different things, very versatile.

Q. What stands out about Castle?

JAIME JAQUEZ JR.: I think just the way he plays the game. He's always aggressive, always wants to win, plays hard every possession. That's what makes him successful.