Jaime Jaquez Jr. was in the middle of a pickup game at an LA Fitness in Miami when a fan walked up and showed him his phone. That’s how he found out he’d been traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat.
The moment was caught on video and went viral — Jaquez’s face dropping, the slow head shake, the muttered curse. And he says it was completely genuine. He wasn’t acting for the camera. He was just another guy who got blindsided by a text from a stranger.
“I knew that it was going to happen that day, and I was with all my friends,” Jaquez told The Miami Herald. “I had to pick up my girlfriend from the airport. So, on my way, I stopped by my friend’s house. They’re like, ‘Let’s just go hoop. Get your mind off things.’ And we went to LA Fitness, and my phone was blowing up. So, I had a bunch of missed calls. But all the guys that were there, they came and told me. And then I got on the phone with my agent, and they let me know.”
The trade, which became official July 6, sent Jaquez, Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis to Milwaukee in exchange for Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news, but Jaquez learned about it the old-fashioned way — through a fan at the gym.
Jaquez admits the initial reaction was rough
The 24-year-old forward had spent three seasons in Miami, carving out a real role. He made the All-Rookie first team in his first year, hit a sophomore slump, then bounced back last season with a Sixth Man of the Year runner-up finish. He was part of the fabric there, a guy Heat fans loved for his hustle and feel for the game.
So hearing he was being shipped out stung more than he expected.
“I knew that it was definitely a possibility,” Jaquez said. “But you’re never truly prepared for what it does. So, once I got the news, it was definitely devastating for sure. I love Miami. I love this city. It really felt like home.”
He also said he’s “super excited” about the new opportunity in Milwaukee. And honestly, that’s probably the truth too. It’s possible to hold both feelings at once — heartbroken to leave a place you love, but ready to prove yourself somewhere new.
Jaquez now heads to a Bucks team that’s getting a 23-year-old wing who can create his own shot, defend multiple positions, and has already shown he can handle big moments. Milwaukee’s fan base should like what they’re getting. Miami’s fan base is probably still processing what they gave up.
Either way, Jaquez’s viral moment at LA Fitness is now part of NBA trade lore. A reminder that for all the analytics and front-office maneuvering, the guys actually getting traded are often just regular dudes trying to finish a game of 21.
Leave a Comment