Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat’s star wing, was sidelined for the third straight game on Monday during their Christmas matchup against the Sixers due to a calf injury. But they had a rookie named Jaime Jaquez Jr. who, at times, had a striking resemblance to the team’s injured star. During his press conference after the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra actually used the occasion to draw comparisons between Butler and Jaquez, two players with distinct styles of play but comparable methods.
Jaques led the team to a 119-113 victory over Philadelphia with 31 points. He recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds as well. In both categories, their output indicated career highs.
“When you say something like that about Jimmy, it’s very similar,” Spoelstra remarked at the press conference following the game. “You wouldn’t do this with Jimmy, but he could figure out how to score 20 points without a play call and play the entire game without the ball.” if you issued him with that challenge. He would simply rule over all of those intermission plays.
Jimmy Butler and Jaime Jaquez Jr. Share Additional Similarities
There are more parallels between Jimmy Butler and Jaime Jaquez Jr. When Jaquez and Butler attended college, they weren’t big prep recruits or AAU stars. Neither was a lottery pick straight out of college; instead, they both had to work their way up to national prominence in the NCAA.
Butler, a three-year Marquette student, was selected thirtyth overall in 2011. After four years at UCLA, Jaquez was selected as the 17th pick this spring.
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