By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After 15 NBA appearances in his rookie year, Nikola Jovic logged 22 games played, including 14 starts until the All-Star break of the 2023-24 Regular Season. A massive upgrade paired with excitement surrounding his development, but short of a steady role. Numerous healthy scratches and sitting on the bench with head coach Erik Spoelstra.
“Either I start, or I don’t play,” the Serbian power forward recently described to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “It’s wild.”
Jovic, 20, has been brilliant in an unusual situation in Miami. Averaging 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, he produced a highlight on February 13, setting his individual best in the NBA at 24 points and leading the Heat past the Milwaukee Bucks in Fiserv Forum.
“I get to learn and I need to be ready when I get a chance. I’m working hard like I always do. I feel like everybody sees the improvement,” he approved his role, “I mean I want to play. Playing is the most important thing. But I feel like as long as they believe in me and I believe in them, it’s going to work out.”
“I feel like I’m working a lot, especially the last month, last two or three months,” he added, “There’s no off days for me. When they have an off day, it’s an on day for me.”
Beyond the Heat, Belgrade giant Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet following Jovic is emerging into another interesting topic.
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