If Nikola Jovic changed the V to a J in his last name, he would share the surname of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Now, of course, it would be unfair to compare Jovic (or anyone for that matter) to the triple-double merchant.
Now in his third season, Jovic is still just 21 years old. There’s plenty of time for the Serbian forward to showcase his talents on the court for the Miami Heat. Of late though, Jovic hasn’t received that opportunity as he has been benched. He recently spoke about hoping to regain the trust of head coach Erik Spoelstra and see a return to the lineup.
Former Heat Starter Speaks On No Longer Receiving Playing Time
Jovic Hasn’t Played In The Heat’s Last Six Games As He Has Been Benched
In Miami’s first eight games of the season, Jovic was inserted into the starting lineup. The Heat went 3-5 in those contests. In the following six outings, Jovic played but came off the bench. Now he hasn’t stepped on the court in each of the last six games (wasn’t available for two with an ankle injury).
The 6-foot-10 power forward spoke with Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald about the benching. He said,
“Of course, I’m frustrated just because I’m not playing. But it just shows you that I can keep working on myself. That’s what I’m doing now. You got to gain that trust back from the coaches and everyone.”
It’s certainly understandable that Jovic would be frustrated about his current predicament. Last season, he started each of his last 26 appearances in the regular season as well as each of the five games of Miami’s first round loss to the eventual champions, the Boston Celtics.
Jovic also told Chiang,
“I know I’m good enough. I know I’m a good player. I don’t think it’s that. It’s the style of basketball play, the things that coach wants from certain lineups, it’s just something that, I guess, I’m not fitting right now. That’s why I got to work on those things and get back. I’m really not questioning how good I am now.”
After not being available for two games with a sprained left ankle, Jovic was active in Wednesday’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers but did not play.
First Round Pick By Miami In 2022
The Heat selected Jovic with the 27th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He appeared in just 15 games for Miami in his rookie year and also spent time with their G Leafue affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Playing in 46 games for the NBA squad last season, Jovic was in the starting lineup for 38 of them.
In his 14 games (eight starts) this season, Jovic has played an average of 18.2 minutes. He has posted per game averages of 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.9 steals. Jovic has shot 44.8% from the field, 31.8% from beyond the arc, and 80.0% from the foul line. In 2023-24, he connected on 39.9% of his three-point tries.
Jovic won a bronze medal with Serbia in this year’s Paris Summer Olympics. He also made the NBA Finals as a rookie and got in one game against the Denver Nuggets, a series Miami lost in five games.
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