Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. may have been drafted into the NBA on one of the biggest nights of his life, but what happened off the court that evening might be even more unforgettable. In a recent appearance on the Straight to Cam podcast, Jaquez shared the hilarious and chaotic story of how he met his girlfriend, Dominique Ruotolo, on draft night. Spoiler alert: it involves tequila, an Uber, and a bathroom floor.
Jaquez was celebrating in New York after being selected 18th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. Riding high on adrenaline and emotion, he bumped into Dominique, literally.
“It was straight out of a movie,” he said. “We started talking and chatting, and as the night progressed, we were having a great time, getting to know each other.”
Feeling bold, Jaquez suggested they ditch the party for some late-night pizza. Dominique agreed, and they hopped into an Uber. But as soon as the car pulled away, reality hit him hard.
“The loud music stops, the lights stop flashing, and it hits me: ‘Oh wow. I can’t go get pizza. I need to go home.’”
Confused, Dominique asked what was going on. Jaquez, in full meltdown mode, begged her to take him back to his hotel.
“She’s like, ‘Wait, you’re taking me to your hotel? Who even are you?’ And I said, ‘Please, just take me to my room. I’m begging you.’”
Once back at the hotel, things got even messier, literally. Jaquez stumbled into the bathroom while his brother slept nearby, and Dominique was left wondering what she’d just walked into. Their mutual friend Justin ended up getting her number before she left, likely thinking she’d never see Jaquez again.
But the next morning, Jaquez texted her to apologize. Her response?
“Of course. No problem. It happens to the best of us.”
.@jaquez_jr tells a NEVER before told story of how he met his girlfriend pic.twitter.com/nzCcb9581c
— Straight to Cam (@straight2cam) August 5, 2025
From that chaotic night, a relationship blossomed, but not until three months later in Los Angeles, when Jaquez tried to make up for the messy first interaction. Today, Dominique, an accomplished track and field athlete and Pac-12 champion, is a regular presence at Heat games.
Sometimes love doesn’t start with roses, it starts with tequila, confusion, and a very forgiving Uber ride.
