This doesn't smell good for Nikola Jovicwho was already looking forward to seeing Team USA (and his teammate Bam Adebayo) again at the Olympics, since we learned from Meridian Sport that he is heading towards a package for Paris 2024.
On the side of the Sun-Sentinelhowever, we are being more cautious about his injury, referring to a sprain rather than a fracture, and we are only talking about a withdrawal from the exhibition, because the Heat winger stayed in the country and will not travel with the team for the moment. Serbia.
The time trial has begun… but Miami will have the last word
Absent yesterday, during the first preparation match won by the Serbs in France, Nikola Jovic would not have recovered sufficiently from his left ankle injury, contracted in June. Included in Svetislav Pesic's pre-selection, he has since been working on his own to return in time for the Olympic Gameswhich begin in two weeks.
“ The injury I sustained is improving, the swelling has almost disappeared. But we will wait a few more days for the control scan. […] Honestly, I'm not 100% sure I can play, but I really believe in it. ” displayed the 21-year-old player at the end of June, then appearing with a protective boot on his foot, but aware that insurance issues risk blocking him since his NBA franchise will have the last word.
Having become a staple in Erik Spoelstra's rotation, Nikola Jovic is expected to be Serbia's starting power forward this summer, alongside Nikola Jokic. He is coming off a season averaging 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists with Miami (40% from 3-point range), following his successful World Cup with the “Orlovi”, silver medalists in 2023.
| Nikola Jovic | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | 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? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
