![\"Nikola](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-07-06-at-9.12.46-AM-edited.jpg\")
(Mandatory Credit: Melissa Tamez\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n(Mandatory Credit: Melissa Tamez\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve had months to reflect on what was another tumultuous Miami Heat season, culminating in a fourth-straight play-in. But the biggest black eye<\/a> was Nikola Jovic\u2019s regression after an encouraging third season.<\/p>\n Jovic, 23, averaged just 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists across 47 games last season. He shot just 36.6 percent from the floor, 26.9 percent from 3-point range and 68.3 percent from the free-throw line. Yet, the Heat still believe his best basketball is ahead of him.<\/p>\n \u201cEventually, that production is going to translate in the NBA,\u201d a Heat assistant told<\/a> Spotrac\u2019s Keith Smith last month. \u201cWe have to get him healthy and keep him healthy. The talent is obviously there.\u201d<\/p>\n Does Nikola Jovic fit better in this context?<\/p>\n Even though Jovic only played in 107 games over his first three seasons due to myriad injuries and not receiving enough opportunity, he was productive. The 6-foot-10 wing averaged 8.7 points and 3.8 rebounds across 21.1 minutes, shooting 45.0 percent from the floor, 37.0 percent from 3-point range and 80.4 percent from the charity stripe. <\/p>\n On a per-75-possession basis, his numbers over that span equate to 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals. For a scalable player with a healthy amount of upside, that\u2019s good production. Not to mention, Jovic has grown exponentially as a defender, developing into one of the team\u2019s best isolation defenders, where he can guard at least 2-3 possessions.<\/p>\n However, it came crashing down last year \u2014 months after signing a brand new $62.4 million extension. He never found his footing, and sulked when his shot wasn\u2019t going through the rim. Jovic\u2019s on-off numbers weren\u2019t catastrophic, but his impact waned. Jovic\u2019s struggles became mental.<\/p>\n His biggest key will now be being able to put the ball through the orange cylinder. Jovic\u2019s role will be minimized alongside newly acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, although I believe he would function well as a secondary playmaker off the bench, given the Heat\u2019s lack of ball-handling.<\/p>\n Not all growth is linear. Now is Jovic\u2019s chance to grow; he\u2019s still only 23 and flashes a tantalizing skillset as a complementary piece. The Serbian\u2019s been unable to put all of the puzzle pieces together, but 2026-27 offers a strong opportunity to do so when given the runway \u2014 make the coaches have to play you.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n To check out our other content, click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter\/X\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Subscribe to our YouTube channel\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n \t\t\t