The Last 5 First-Round Picks of the Miami Heat
Founded in 1988, the Miami Heat have experienced plenty of success in the NBA, winning three championships and appearing in the playoffs in 24 of 36 seasons. The Heat roster over the years has featured several star players drafted by other teams, including LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Shaquille O'Neal. However, the team has also drafted well, selecting future stars like Dwyane Wade, who is the franchise's all-time leader in games played, points, assists, and steals. They also drafted Glen Rice, Steve Smith, Caron Butler, and Eddie House, all of whom played at least 700 career regular season games.
Below is a look at the Heat's last five first-round picks and how they've performed early in their careers.
Jaime Jaquez (2023)
With the 18th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Heat selected 6-foot-6 guard and small forward Jaime Jaquez. Described by NBA TV's Andy Katz as the "perfect player" for Miami, Jaquez played four seasons at UCLA, during which time he averaged 13.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. He had his best year as a senior in 2022-23, averaging career-best figures in points (17.8), rebounds (8.2), assists (2.4), and steals (1.5). He was named Pac-12 Player of the Year as well.
Jaquez, who is also a two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive team honoree, has been one of the best rookies through the first two months of the 2023-24 NBA season. He averaged 12.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists through his first 23 games. His teammate Jimmy Butler spoke of how impressed he was by Jaquez following a season-best 24-point performance in a 142-132 win over the Indiana Pacers on November 30.
"He's so confident, always working on his game and he wants to make the right play every time," said Butler, speaking to USA Today. "It's not like he's a rookie. He knows what it takes to win."
Nikola Jovic (2022)
Miami selected 6-foot-10 Serbian forward Nikola Jovic with the 27th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Jovic appeared in just 15 games in his rookie season, averaging 5.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game with a 40.6 field-goal shooting percentage. He fared better in the G League, averaging 12.4 points and 5.6 rebounds with a 46.7 percent field-goal shooting percentage. Jovic was also a key contributor for the gold-medal-winning Serbian team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where he averaged 17 points, 3 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game.
Miami exercised its third-year option on Jovic's rookie contract before the 2023-24 season, meaning he'll be signed with the team through 2024-25.
Precious Achiuwa (2020)
Miami had the 20th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and drafted 6-foot-8 power forward Precious Achiuwa out of the University of Memphis. Born in Nigeria, Achiuwa played at Montverde Academy in Florida before committing to Memphis, where he averaged 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game as a freshman and won AAC Player of the Year. In his rookie season with Miami, Achiuwa averaged 5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 61 games.
The Heat traded Achiuwa, along with Goran Dragic and a trade exception, to the Toronto Raptors for Kyle Lowry in the 2021 off-season. A versatile forward, Achiuwa has since been a solid contributor for the Raptors, averaging at least 9 points and 6 rebounds in each of his first two seasons while primarily coming off of the bench. He has individual game highs of 27 points and 22 rebounds.
Tyler Herro (2019)
The Heat drafted two players in the 2019 NBA Draft: Tyler Herro and Bol Bol. Herro, selected 13th overall out of the University of Kentucky, is Miami's best draft pick in the last four years based on win shares (10.9). Through his first 250 career regular season games, he averaged 17.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on 44 percent field-goal shooting.
Herro was named to the All-Rookie team in 2019-20 after averaging 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists and won Sixth Man of the Year in 2021-22. He averaged 20.7 points and shot 39.9 percent from three-point range that season, while coming off of the bench in 56 of the 66 games in which he played. He has been a regular in the starting rotation since the start of the 2022-23 season.
Bam Adebayo (2017)
Based on win shares (44.6), Bam Adebayo is Miami's best draft pick since it selected Wade (120.7) fifth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. Miami selected Adebayo 14th overall out of the University of Kentucky in 2017. He averaged 6.9 points in his rookie season and has steadily increased his production in each consecutive season, averaging a career-best 20.4 points in 2022-23. He was also named an All-Star for the second time in his career that season. Adebayo is also a four-time All-Defensive team honoree with individual game highs of 41 points and 21 rebounds.