By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Serbian talent Nikola Jovic left Mega Basket to join the Miami Heat after being selected by the franchise with the 27th overall pick in June’s draft and is enjoying his newfound popularity, as he told in an interview with mozzartsport.com.
Jovic shared the experience of being in the Green Room during the draft, as well as his thoughts about being selected in the first round.
“Before the draft there is speculation as to who will be chosen from which position, when you are there it is difficult to predict what will happen,” Jovic said. “The first ten picks were called, then 20, 25… I wasn’t there yet, I got a little nervous. But I was sure that someone would pick me”.
“I was one of the youngest, I come from Europe, and I completely understand why it was the 27th position,” the 2003-born forward further explained. “I am very happy that Miami is my new club. I didn’t think at all that I would end up there, I had no feeling that they would choose me. They have a well-known culture, it is known how strong their training is, I think I will improve a lot. They’re a title contender, so it’s the right place to see what I’m up to”.
With his selection in the draft and his participation in the NBA Summer League, 19-year-old Jovic is also faced with increased popularity, this time outside of his home country.
“I still don’t have the feeling that I left, my soul is somewhere in Belgrade. I’m getting used to it slowly, everything is completely different. Many people recognize me, in hotels, and on the streets. I walk around Miami and Vegas, fans come up to me and ask for an autograph and a photo. I am proud and feel good. I became popular overnight,” he said.
Besides the obvious parallel to their names, Nikola Jovic and Nikola Jokic share many more similarities, and the youngster hopes to meet the back-to-back NBA MVP soon.
“In Serbia, I could not imagine that Jokic is so popular here,” Jovic said. “There is no social network, so it is impossible to estimate how much enthusiasm he causes. But now I understand everything. All the players I’ve met mention him, they say he’s amazing, I can’t wait to meet him and see him play live”.
When the draft ended, Jovic held discussions with Heat president Pat Riley as well as coach Erik Spoelstra and explained that he got a clear understanding of what is expected of him.
“The two of them explained to me in half an hour what everything would look like. Simply, the most important thing is that I work, and how much I contribute. They are fighting for the title and it is unlikely that I will be able to change anything in the team now. In the future, I can be better and become one of the more important players. They explained to me that there is a lot of training, and that I will have to work on myself a lot. It was important to me that they believed in me, they showed me that in that conversation. They were very clear, I immediately understood them”.
“Usually, the rookies don’t play the whole season with the first team, but there is no doubt that I will train with them. The contract is signed. There will probably be a little NBA, a little G League. Both are great, the most important thing for me is to play,” added Jovic.