In just three weeks, the Miami Heat will kick off their 2024-25 NBA campaign against the Orlando Magic at the Kaseya Center. However, despite the excitement surrounding the new season, some of Jimmy Butlerās teammates are unhappy with decisions that will affect the teamās visibility throughout the year.
Jaime Jaquez Jr., a promising young talent, expressed his dissatisfaction with the limited number of nationally televised games scheduled for the Heat during the regular season: āThatās what the NBA thinks of us. And thatās OK, because I guarantee you that theyāre going to still be talking about us when the season goes on and we play our seasonā.
The discontent likely stems from a stark contrast compared to last year. The Heat had 16 nationally televised games across ESPN, ABC and TNT in the previous season. This year, however, they will only have seven.
Despite this, Jaquez Jr. remains confident that the teamās performance will force the spotlight on them: āI think the media is still going to find a way to talk about us and what weāre doing and weāre going to definitely make some noise. Theyāre going to have no choice but to mention our names.ā
Jaime Jaquez Jr., #11 of the Miami Heat, playing his first season with the team.
Heat wonāt let this affect them
In addition to the 23-year-old small forward, Duncan Robinson also weighed in on the low expectations for the team this season: āI feel like thatās really a place of comfort for usā¦ Weāve been there plenty of times and we kind of know how to move forward from it. And we know what button to push and how to maximize opportunities when weāre in these sort of places.ā
see also
NBA News: Jimmy Butler makes something clear to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra
Jimmy Butlerās championship-driven focus
As for Butler, the teamās leader remains unphased by external opinions. During media day, he made his mission for the season clear: āI know what the city deserves, what the city wants and thatās a championship. We are fueled enough to go and get that trophy at the end.ā
