In the Miami Heat's 119-113 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Jax scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, one of the best rookie performances in NBA history.
After two superstars — defending MVP, Philadelphia star center Joel Embiid and Heat star forward Jimmy Butler — both sidelined due to injury, the historic performance was welcomed by the entire NBA. Butler missed three games with a calf strain and was replaced by Jax.
Jax, the 18th overall pick in the draft and a fourth-year college player at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), ranked seventh in rookie scoring at Christmas, but he's only the fifth first-year player to score at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a first-year game. It was his first game on Christmas Day in the NBA regular season. The last time this happened was 38 years ago.
20 years ago, LeBron James scored 34 points in his rookie Christmas game. Patrick Ewing was the last rookie to score at least 30 and 10 points, having 32 points and 11 rebounds in 1985. Wilt Chamberlain (45 points, 34 rebounds, haha), Oscar Robertson (32 points, 15 rebounds) and Walter Bellamy (35 points, 18 rebounds) achieved this for several years in a row from 1959 to 1961. Then Ewing, then Jax.
The reason he scored 31 points and 10 points wasn't Christmas," said Heat star center Bam Adebayo, who also scored 26 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks himself. "I feel like he's destined for 31 points and 10 rebounds in his rookie year because he's so mature. He spent four years in college and has learned how to win competitions. Obviously, we have a great group of people around him, and he's thriving. ”
Jacques averaged 13 per gameThe 7-point rookie trailed only Victor Wembanyama (18.).5 points), Chet Holmgren (172 points) and Brandon Miller (14.)6 points), and he has scored in double figures in 16 of his last 17 games, averaging 16 points per game1 point.
The Heat currently have a 12-2 record on Christmas Day, the highest Christmas win percentage in the NBA, and have won nine straight games over Christmas, all under Spoelstra.