Heat Select Jaime Jaquez Jr. With 18th Pick, Becomes First of Mexican Descent To Be Drafted in Two Decades

(Photo : Ethan Miller/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - Jaime Jaquez Jr. (#24) of the UCLA Bruins brings the ball up the court against the Oregon Ducks in the first half of a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 10, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bruins defeated the Ducks 75-56.

The Miami Heat are looking to bounce back after losing in the 2023 NBA Finals.

Their first move since the championship round is selecting Jaime Jaquez Jr. of UCLA with the 18th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The four-year UCLA player became the sixth player of Mexican heritage to reach the NBA, according to the league's official Mexican page.

Moreover, Jacquez Jr. is the first to enter the league via the draft in 23 years, after current Dallas Mavericks scout Eduardo Najera was selected with the 38th overall pick in 2000.

The new Heat selection will join Jazz forward Juan Toscano-Anderson as the players of Mexican descent currently in the league.

While he is officially an American due to his parents immigrating to the country when he was a child, the 22-year-old acknowledged his Mexican roots after he was drafted. He added that it feels incredible to represent his Mexican heritage in the league.

Read more: Wembanyama Expectedly Goes Number 1, Hornets Stun With Second Overall Selection

Jaime Jaquez Jr. Should Easily Get Along in Miami

The Heat's selection of Jacquez Jr. should bode well for the team, as the player stated during college that his favorite NBA player is Heat star, Jimmy Butler.

Heat writer Brady Hawk noted that Jaquez Jr. likely watches many Butler films, as his game is reminiscent of the six-time All-Star.

When asked about mimicking things from his favorite player, Jaquez Jr. said that the Heat star always tries to make the right play and will try to emulate that trait.

"He's a competitor and that's what I try to be every single day," he added.

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