Training camp is in full swing for the Miami Heat with their season opener less than three weeks away. One Heat youngster who’s seemingly turning heads with his level of play during scrimmages in training camp is big man Nikola Jovic.
Per Five Reasons Sports’ Brady Hawk, Jovic has looked “extremely good” in scrimmages. The promising update comes as Jovic and the Heat just recently agreed to a four-year extension worth over $62 million.
“Heard he’s looked extremely good in camp last 2 days in scrimmages,” Hawk wrote via Discord after the second day of training camp.
Jovic certainly boasts a uniquely well-rounded skill set for a power forward who stands at 6-foot-10. He’s a generalist rather than a specialist, as he averaged 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per 36 minutes of action with the Heat in the 2024-25 campaign, his third NBA season.
The former first-round pick seemingly has a lot of untapped potential as well. He’s just 22 years old after all, and maybe he is in store for a breakout campaign in the 2025-26 season now that he’s gotten his feet wet in the NBA.
But in order for Jovic to truly have a breakout season, he’s going to need significant game action and time on the court. Between injury woes and an inconsistent role at times, he’s been limited to just 107 regular-season appearances across his opening three campaigns. Jovic suited up in barely over half of Miami’s 82 games last season as well at 46.
Miami’s move to extend Jovic comes with its risks, but fans of the Heat should be optimistic that he can put together his best NBA season to date in light of Hawk’s report, so long as he’s able to avoid the injury bug. Jovic has never played more than 46 games in any NBA regular season, and a goal for him in the coming campaign should be to appear in at least 65 contests for Miami.
With any luck, Jovic will soon be recognized as one of the better value contracts in the NBA and an instrumental component of the Heat’s young core. His first chance to make a statement in the new season will come when Miami opens things up against the Orlando Magic on Oct. 22.