Head coach Erik Spoelstra says the Heat are urging Nikola Jovic to take a more consistently professional approach so he can produce on a regular basis, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Jovic, who signed a four-year, $62.4MM rookie scale extension before the season began, has been plagued by bouts of inconsistency throughout his career. That has remained true in 2025/26 as well, with the 22-year-old forward having a couple excellent all-around performances mixed in with some forgettable showings.
“When he plays with a force of will and an intention, it’s always starting with him, and an approach every day, to approach a practice day and a shootaround and a film session like it’s really important,” Spoelstra said. “He’s made improvements with that. It’s still not where it needs to be, because he’s young and doesn’t see that it’s always important. But he’s getting there.
“And then it’s a matter of consistency. But you can see the possibilities when he has that intention and things are important to him.”
Here’s more on the Heat:
- With Bam Adebayo sidelined due to a toe sprain, Miami has been starting Andrew Wiggins at power forward, with Jovic used as a small-ball center off the bench. Neither player has any complaints about his current role, according to Winderman. “I mean, it doesn’t matter to me too much,” said Wiggins. “As long as I can be out there competing, I just take on that competitive challenge. I’ve got to guard a bigger guy, so I’ve got to bring it. I’ve got to bring my physicality out, bring my competitive nature out, and take on that challenge.”
- Adebayo and Tyler Herro made the trip to New York for Friday’s contest against the Knicks, but both players will remain sidelined, per Winderman. Adebayo will miss his fifth straight game, while Herro has yet to make his season debut after undergoing left ankle surgery in the offseason. As Winderman observes, the Heat announced when Herro had surgery that the All-Star guard was expected to miss around eight weeks — Friday marks eight weeks since that statement was issued.
- While Adebayo isn’t expected to miss a significant chunk of time with his injury, there’s still no official timetable for the three-time All-Star’s return, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald states in mailbag. Chiang believes Kel’el Ware will likely move back to the bench when Adebayo resumes playing.