Not every NBA love story starts with a red carpet, glitzy parties, and a player at the top of his game.
Sometimes, as Jaime Jaquez Jr. proved, things begin with a little chaos, a lot of tequila, and an unexpected twist of fate.
When Jaquez heard his name called as the eighteenth overall pick by the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Draft, he thought the biggest night of his life had just begun.
As celebrations erupted across New York City, Jaquez found himself swept into the energy and excitement, unaware his night would end with a far more memorable story than his entry into professional basketball.
In a candid appearance on the “Straight to Cam” podcast, Jaquez shared that it was pure chance that he crossed paths with Dominique Ruotolo, a college track and field star and future model, during the wild post-draft festivities.
“I was having the time of my life. My dream came true,” Jaquez said. “And I bump into her, literally bump into her, like straight out of a movie.”
Their conversation was easy and fun. “We start talking and chatting, and then as the night progresses, we were having a great time, talking and getting to know each other,” he recalled.
Eventually, Jaquez suggested they grab a late-night bite together. “Let’s go get some pizza or something,” Jaquez said. Ruotolo agreed, and it seemed the night was headed in the right direction.
But the reality of a whirlwind night soon hit. The moment Jaquez climbed into the Uber, the effects of his celebratory tequila binge became clear.
“As soon as I got in the Uber, and the loud music and the lights stopped going, I realized, ‘Oh wow. I can’t go get pizza. I need to go home,'” Jaquez admitted.
How One Embarrassing Night Turned Into a New Beginning
Dominique, showing kindness to a stranger, agreed to get Jaquez back to his hotel, even though she barely knew him: “She was like, ‘Wait, what do you mean? You’re taking me to your hotel? Who are you? I don’t know you,’ and I said, ‘Please, just take me home.'”
Once back at the hotel, things got even messier.
“She takes me up to my room, my brother is asleep and he’s like, ‘What is going on?’ And I end up making a beeline for the bathroom,” Jaquez said, describing how the celebration quickly turned into an embarrassing scene.
“You guys can put the story together from there. I ended up dying, and she was like, ‘What the hell?'”
Jaquez‘s friend Justin managed to get Ruotolo‘s number before she left, and the next morning, Jaquez sent her a sincere apology: “She replied, ‘Of course. No problem. It happens to the best of us.'”
For the next three months, there was no contact, and both went about their lives.
However, when Jaquez later returned to Los Angeles, he decided to reach out. Encouraged by friends, he invited Ruotolo and her friends to join him for a night out. This time, things were different.
“She came, brought her friends, and the rest is history,” Jaquez explained. “We hit it off that night. Fell in love so quick. She forgave me for my dark moment. And yeah, we hit it off.”
Ruotolo, who earned All-American honors as a triple jumper at USC after transferring from Oregon, has since made a name for herself in modeling, including a debut in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
Jaquez, meanwhile, is finding his place with the Heat, already earning a reputation as a valuable contributor off the bench.
A Love Story Born From an Unlikely Beginning
What could have been an awkward memory turned out to be the start of a genuine connection.
Jaquez and Ruotolo made their relationship public at the Heat Gala in 2024, and their story has quickly become a favorite among Heat fans.
As Jaquez reflected, “She forgave me for my dark moment… and yeah, we hit it off.”
The Miami Heat forward’s tale is a reminder that sometimes, life’s best moments begin with a little embarrassment, and that a single act of kindness can change everything.
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