Camarillo's Jaime Jaquez Jr. 'puts on for the 805' in first trip home as NBA player

Pat Riley tried pumping the breaks.

The Miami Heat president and former Los Angeles Lakers head coach jokingly interrupted the interview after Wednesday afternoon’s shootaround at UCLA.

“Stop making him a star, before he’s a star,” Riley told the reporter with a smile.

The way Jaime Jaquez Jr. is playing as an NBA rookie, that window is rapidly closing.

After a memorable homecoming this week, which included his first two games in Los Angeles as a professional, the Camarillo High graduate was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the second straight month.

The former Pacific-12 Conference Player of the Year at UCLA began the return home with a loud ovation from Clippers fans during pregame introductions Monday and ended it with a sweet fadeaway jumper over Lakers superstar Lebron James on Wednesday.

“It’s been a great homecoming,” Jaquez said. “I think I’ve got a lot of love at all the games and I got to see my family and friends, so it’s been pretty special.”

The family and friends from Camarillo who packed into two luxury boxes at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night chanted “Jai-me Ja-quez!” as he left the game after the Heat’s win over the Lakers was secured.

“We always try to represent,” Jaquez’s father, Jaime Sr., said. “And that’s what he did."

Parents Jaime Sr. and Angela, sister Gabriela — a basketball star in her own right for second-ranked UCLA — brother Marcos, who is playing football at Ventura College, were among the family waiting for Jaquez to emerge from the locker room Wednesday night.

“Everyone is here," Jaime Sr. said. "There were hundreds of people at the Clippers game. … You know Camarillo, they support. You could see it right here.”

Jaquez is averaging 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists through the first 34 games of his NBA career. He’s shooting better than 50% from the field and 35% from 3-point land.

Ahead of Friday night’s game in Phoenix, the Heat sat fourth in the Eastern Conference at 20-14.

Drafted 18th overall in June’s NBA draft, Jaquez is now the third favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award, behind Chet Holmgren of Oklahoma City and Victor Wembanyama of San Antonio.

“I was always very confident in my ability,” Jaquez said. “I knew once I got the opportunity that I knew I was going to take full advantage. I was able to get an opportunity early and just ride and see what I was able to do.

“I always felt like this is where I belong.”

With star Jimmy Butler sitting, Miami has leaned heavily on its rookie, who is leading all NBA players in minutes played in the fourth quarter this season.

“He has a competitive spirit and an experience level to know how to impact winning,” Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said. “We’ll roll with that. He has competitive toughness. He makes winning plays. He did a lot of winning things (Wednesday night).”

That has been a theme of Jaquez’s transition to becoming a professional. After the Heat drafted him, Jaquez was asked what he thought was the “defining quality” of his game.

“I would just say I’m just a guy who makes an impact on the game,” Jaquez responded. “I feel like that is my biggest quality, just making impactful winning plays.

“Getting a steal or getting a deflection or getting a big rebound, just little things that really impact the game in a major way.”

The Lakers drafted Indiana guard Jalen Hood-Schifino at No. 17, one pick before Jaquez was selected by Miami.

“I was ready to get out of L.A. and experience life as a real adult, away from family, away from friends in a new area,” Jaquez said.

Jaquez has immediately steeped himself into the “Heat Culture” of hard work and professionalism.

“It started back in summer,” Jaquez said. “I got out there early, working with all the coaches and staff on what the season could look like, what my role would be and how I would develop the tools to play at the best of my ability in this organization.”

He made all three shots on opening night against Detroit on Oct. 25. He made his first NBA start four days later. He scored in double figures in 18 of 19 games from Nov. 8 to Dec. 16.

His breakout performance arrived on Christmas Day, when he became the fifth player in NBA history to record a 30-point, 10-rebound performance on the holiday, joining Patrick Ewing, Walt Bellamy, Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain.

After months thousands of miles away from home, Jaquez returned this week to play in front of his family and friends for the first time as a professional.

Wednesday’s game against the Lakers was especially significant for Jaquez, who wore No. 24 at Camarillo High.

“I grew up a Lakers fan — Kobe Bryant was my favorite player — so to be able to go and play in this arena tonight with the Heat is going to be special,” Jaquez said Wednesday afternoon.

Jaquez had 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting, four rebounds, two assists and four steals in the 121-104 loss to the Clippers on Monday.

“I definitely felt and heard the love from the people in the crowd,” Jaquez said Monday. “It wasn’t a home game for us, but it felt like a home game for me. I was just really happy to see all the support.”

Jaquez scored 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting with eight assists, one steal, one block and two turnovers in the 110-96 win against the Lakers.

“Collectively, just getting stops and getting shots on goal, and pushing the pace in transition,” Jaquez said. “We knew they were a team that didn’t want to guard in transition. That was kind of our game plan just to move the ball up and down the floor and get great shots.”

He also took turns defending some of the biggest stars in basketball, from the Clippers’ Kahwi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden to the Lakers’ James.

“Those guys are where they are for a reason, tough challenge for sure,” Jaquez said. “Just being able to be on the floor with those guys and just trying to do whatever I can to get stops, they’re tough guys to guard.”

Jaquez is aware of his potential as a role model for the next generation of Ventura County basketball players. He mentioned it — “I definitely claim the 805” — to the South Florida Sun Sentinel last month.

He has ties to Ventura County’s previous NBA players. Don MacLean prepared him for the draft. Growing up, he played pickup in Camarillo against James Ennis, who was an NBA rookie with Miami in 2014.

Jaquez, now a Jordan Brand athlete, has recently donated gear to his former programs at Camarillo High and Las Colinas Middle School.

“I think it’s special to be able to put on for the 805,” Jaquez said Wednesday. “To be able to showcase and shed some light on it is incredible.”

Joe Curley covers high school, collegiate and professional football for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcsjoecurley on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Jaquez Jr. 'puts on for the 805' in first trip home as NBA player