Jaime Jaquez Jr. earns Heat’s first NBA Rookie of Month nod since Kendrick Nunn in 2020

MIAMI — Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s emergence as a key component of the Miami Heat’s rotation has been duly noted, with the NBA on Monday naming the No. 18 pick out of UCLA as Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for October/November.

Jaquez becomes the first Heat rookie so honored since Kendrick Nunn in January 2020, the third consecutive month to open that season that Nunn took the award.

The only other Heat players named Rookie of the Month over the franchise’s 36 seasons were Caron Butler four times in 2002-03...