Heat duo Jaquez Jr., Williams show they belong in Rising Stars event
INDIANAPOLIS
Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s Rising Stars experience didn’t last long, but the Heat was still represented in the final of the four-team tournament.
That’s because new Heat two-way contract guard Alondes Williams played in the Rising Stars final on Friday night to kick off NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis. Williams’ team ended up finishing as the runner-up after falling to the team coached by Jalen Rose 26-13 in the final at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
But Williams’ team (Team Detlef Schrempf) eliminated Jaquez’s team (Pau Gasol) 41-36 in one of the two semifinal games on the way to the final.
“It was amazing,” Williams said of his Rising Stars experience. “Always want to experience this experience every day, every year. It’s always a dream to play on this type of stage.”
The two semifinal games were played to a Final Target Score of 40 and the final was played to a Final Target Score of 25.
Williams was one of the stars in the G League team’s victory over Gasol’s squad filled with some of the league’s top rookies. The list of those on Team Pau’s roster included San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama, Charlotte Hornets rookie Brandon Miller and Jaquez.
Williams finished that semifinal win with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Among Williams’ top plays included an and-one layup finish over the outstretched arms of the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama and a corner three with Wembanyama in his face.
Williams then went on to record three points on 1-of-2 shooting from the field and one rebound in Team Detlef’s loss in the final.
Jaquez closed the semifinal loss with six points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field, two rebounds and three assists. His first points came on an alleyoop dunk off a lob pass from Wembanyama.
“It was fun,” Jaquez said of his 10 minutes of playing time during the Rising Stars event. “I got a couple dunks, broke a good sweat.”
In the process, Jaquez became the 11th different Heat player (non two-way contract) in franchise history to be selected for the Rising Stars Game, joining a list that also includes Khalid Reeves (1995), Kurt Thomas (1996), Caron Butler (2003), Dwyane Wade (2004 and 2005), Udonis Haslem (2004 and 2005), Michael Beasley (2009 and 2010), Norris Cole (2012), Kendrick Nunn (2020), Tyler Herro (2020 and 2021) and Precious Achiuwa (2021).
For Williams, Friday was just the continuation of a memorable week after signing a two-way contract with the Heat on Feb. 9.
He also played in his first regular-season game as a member of the Heat on Tuesday late in a blowout win over the Bucks, and it came in his hometown of Milwaukee.
“Overwhelming,” Williams said of the last week, “but grateful to be in this situation and in this spot. So I can’t really complain. It’s been great.”
The Heat’s All-Star Weekend continues on Saturday night when Jaquez competes in the Slam Dunk Contest. And Williams also still has one event left to take part in, as he’ll be in Sunday afternoon’s G League Up Next Game along with fellow Heat two-way contract player Cole Swider.
But for now, Williams will continue to savor the moments he produced on the Rising Stars stage.
“Finally got to play against the best of the best and I showed out a little bit,” Williams said. “It was great.”