By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
An option worth 4,445,417 dollars on the rookie contract of Nikola Jovic was picked up by the Miami Heat, as widely expected considering the showings of the Serbian forward.
On Thursday, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press reported on the Heat using the team option for the 2025-26 season.
Jovic, 21, was drafted by the Heat with the 27th selection of the 2022 draft. After steadily additional gaining playing time under the guidance of Erik Spoelstra over the first two years of his NBA career, he is projected for an even bigger role moving forward, making the contract option a no-brainer.
At the end of his rookie contract, he will become a restricted free agent unless he previously signs a contract extension.
After putting up 7.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per contest over 51 appearances last season, including 9.4 points over five starts in the 2024 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel, he helped the senior national team of Serbia capture bronze medals in the 2024 Olympic Games. He tallied 4.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game over five appearances between Lille and Paris.
In a similar move reported by Reynolds, the Heat picked up the third-year option on the rookie contract of Jaime Jaquez Jr. Coming out of UCLA, the 23-year-old Mexican-American forward averaged 12.0 points per contest en route to the 2024 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Teams can use options on rookie contracts for the 2025-26 season until October 31.