Young player Nikola Jovic of the Miami Heat hasn’t got many chances this year, but he has had some promising
ones. It appears that he has demonstrated enough to persuade some NBA insiders that he could act as a surprise
weapon during the playoffs.
According to Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, “some around the league believe Jovic could garner more minutes down
the stretch run and maybe even as a surprise weapon in the playoffs.”
Despite playing in fewer than 22 games, Jovic has started 14 of them. He has put on some impressive performances;
most recently, he scored 24 points in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
He is averaging 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game overall this season while shooting 45.5 percent
from beyond the arc and 43.0 percent from the field. He plays 16.5 minutes a game on average.
A few NBA execs shared some fascinating insights with Heavy Sports regarding Jovic.
An executive from the Eastern Conference stated, “It is not like teams put out a list and say, ‘OK, here is who is
untouchable and here is touchable.'” That isn’t the way it operates. However, the answer to anyone inquiring about
Jovic was a resounding no. They have never sought to relocate him. At best, he has been practically untouchable.
Jovic, 20, is a second-year NBA player.
A Western Conference executive stated, “They could change their roster going forward, but you’ve got to understand
that if they do, they’re going to change with him moving up in the rotation, not him moving out.” “Ask around,
nobody has ever really discussed Nikola Jovic in any kind of transaction that they have inquired about.
“I’m not sure when. The child and his people would definitely prefer to know when. He will, however, eventually be a
solid starter for them.
Despite Jovic’s regular involvement in trade rumors, it sounds like the Heat may have a long-term piece in him.
Miami acquired him with a first-round pick for a purpose, after all, and the organization is probably still gauging his
potential. In his NBA career, Jovic has only made 37 appearances during the regular season.
He may be a surprise weapon in the playoffs, which would make the Heat very happy. During its postseason
campaigns, the team has occasionally received help from surprising heroes; Jovic might be the next. Although he
played in seven playoff games the previous season, his playing time was so little that it’s likely he still doesn’t
understand how different the postseason can be. That might not remain the case for very long.
With a record of 30–25 this year, the Heat are presently ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference. In an attempt to
avoid the play-in tournament, they’ll try to climb the standings following the All-Star break.
