Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jović, Erik Spoelstra | Pregame Interviews | October 4, 2025

Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jović, Erik Spoelstra | Pregame Interviews | October 4, 2025

First of all, uh the work that has to be done. Coach says this is an extension of camp, even though you’re going to play Orlando like 500 times in the early part of the season. What’s the right mentality when you’re not necessarily gaming against the opponent, but you’re still working on what you’re trying to do to build? Yeah, I think you said it best. We’re just still working on what we need to build. I mean, although we’re gone from Bokeh, this is still considered camp. You know, we’re still working. Uh I think we got 20some days left before our first game home opener. So, this is all in preparation for that and throughout the rest of the season. So, that’s how we’re taking it as and we’re excited to be here. Play some games. Camp was quick, but how did it go for you and what you wanted to accomplish to get to this moment? Uh, it went really well. Uh, went really well. I was happy to be there. We got my guys here. Uh, happy to see everyone get together and and play some games and really just get to build that connection. Since five is just a little bit over this interview, let’s talk about all his money. Uh, how happy are you for him and the stitch? I’m super happy for him. Uh, I’ve been seeing this guy since he was a little little kid, man. you know, back when he was 20 or even 19, see him grow and finally become like a big guy. You know, he he got in the league earlier, but I still feel like he was my rookie um coming into the league. So, it’s good to see him good to see him growing up officially now. Congratulations. How nice is it to have everything official and done and and I guess move on, but still be able to enjoy this particular milestone. Yeah. I mean, what can I say, you know, uh other than I’m, you know, super happy. I’m blessed for everything this this organization done for me, you know. happy that’s all official and we can kind of, you know, move on and get ready for the season, you know. Uh I don’t want to talk a lot about it, you know. I’m just happy and blessed and I’ll make sure I’ll make this stuff work, you know. Yeah. Even though you’re a professional athlete and your business is out there, is it still a little strange like to see those type of numbers associated to you even though you’ve earned it and you’re a professional athlete and that’s just how it goes? I mean, sure. Yeah. It’s it’s you know I I don’t feel like you know I’ll get that feeling until you know the the checks start kicking in. Right. So yeah, um you know, I think just more more most important thing, not just for me, but everybody I feel like is to, you know, stay humble and, you know, uh know where you came from and what you did to get to to the point, you know, and uh yeah, that’s what I’ll try to do, you know, and uh do my best, you know, be the same guy, you know, same uh guy who’s going to help everybody, you know, just improve and uh be happy to do what he loves to do. What’s the right mindset? You’re going to play against Orlando three times. Uh so what’s the right mindset against them? I feel like just you know seeing what they have not not give too much you know but uh I feel the most important thing is you know for us to improve I don’t think we’re really looking at the opponent of course it’s important because it’s an opening night but same time I feel like we got to get something out of this game you know more more than you know getting concentrated on against who we’re playing. Well first of all your reaction now that officially the organization has announced Nico’s extension. We’re really excited for Nico. Um it it’s been uh a fun process, you know, to see his maturation, improvement, um learning how to become a professional. U we drafted him at such a young age. Uh and then you’re seeing him grow and mature right before your eyes. Um he’s earned this. He’s put in a great deal of work. Um yes, he’s had uh you know, some injuries um that you can’t really control, but he’s been able to control all the other things. So that’s been his work e ethic, his approach, consistency. U we’re excited to have him now um with us in the future. As for the work at hand, uh five guys out of the mix. Does that matter much in the sense of not that they’re not here, but in the sense of the work that you’re trying to accomplish tonight? No, we’re we’re moving forward. We’re we’re still considering this training camp. It’s an opportunity to play a different uniform. I think the guys are looking forward to that. Uh I hope to get everybody in the game tonight. Uh I’ll do my best. Uh, and you know, we want to play our minutes hard uh, and continue to build the habits that we’ve been uh, doing all week long. You’re playing on a lot. Two times in the uh, preseason, opening night. How much does that factor into what you’re doing? Like you said, it’s because it’s an extension of camp, you’re really just focused on the continued growth. Yeah, we can’t really uh, afford to do too much gamemanship. You know, right now we’re trying to build habits. Uh look, we have five guys out. So that could change uh the dynamic, you know, for game one. That’s still 17 days from now. Um they’re probably approaching it the same way. We don’t really care how, you know, what they’re doing. It’s it’s more about us continue to build these habits um you know and take steps forward.

Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jović and Erik Spoelstra spoke to the media ahead of Saturday night’s game vs. the Orlando Magic.

0:00 Jaime Jaquez Jr.
1:09 Nikola Jović
2:45 Erik Spoelstra

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