Starting 38 times in his second year in the NBA, Nikola Jovic has established himself in the Heat's rotation, and he could really explode next season as his team seeks a second wind after an elimination in the first round of the playoffs. Even if Miami did not manage to play in another final, on a personal level, he only keeps the positive.
“I've grown a lot, especially since I made the Finals last year and found out how to get there and how difficult it is.” he responds to Hoopshype. “A lot of the veterans are great guys who taught me to be a good person first and a good basketball player second. I learned a lot, like I said, especially last year. This year, I had a little more important role and I had the chance to start in the playoffs. I am grateful to have had this opportunity. I'm grateful to the coaches for seeing that I could play, and I hope I pay it forward to the team and the city of Miami soon. »
A click with the sequence of matches
As he celebrated his 21st birthday on Sunday, Jovic is keen to highlight the importance of having a routine. Like other young players before him, the Serbian winger adapted to the NBA through the regularity of his preparation. “I discovered how difficult it was to play every other day and be a starter. (…) I feel like having a routine has helped me a lot, that is, having a good routine every day to stay in the game and be ready for the matches . As soon as I started playing a few matches in a row, I found a way to contribute every other night and it clicked. »
Asked about his favorite player, Jovic cites… his father, Ilija, Michael Jordan and… Russell Westbrook. “The guy I always watched growing up would have to be Russell Westbrook. He played every game like it was his last and that’s something I always loved. »
| Nikola Jovic | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 15 | 14 | 40.6 | 22.9 | 94.7 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 5.5 |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 46 | 20 | 45.2 | 39.9 | 70.2 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 7.7 |
| Total | 61 | 18 | 44.3 | 36.9 | 77.3 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 7.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
