MIAMI - The Miami Heat are getting a significant boost with Tyler Herro returning to practice after missing 15 games. Meanwhile, Nikola Jovic is on a quest for consistency. In his fourth season with the Heat, Jovic has faced a challenging year but remains focused on making an impact.
With 26 games left, Jovic is determined to contribute any way he can. His playing time has been inconsistent, averaging 17.9 minutes per game, the least since his rookie season. Adapting to the team's new fast-paced offense, he's putting up 7.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, shooting 37 percent from the field and 27.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Jovic acknowledges the cycle of playing well, losing minutes, and then finding himself out of the rotation. He insists it's not a mental block holding him back.
“Spo [Spoelstra] called me a few times in his office. And it's usually the same thing, he always asks me, how can he help me?”
Jovic shared. “But at this point, usually the same; I'll play good for a couple of games, and my minutes will go down, and then I'll be out of the rotation.
I'll come back, look good again. And it's kind of getting repetitive.”
He remains confident, saying, “It's not a confidence thing. I really believe in myself.
I know how good I am. It's just a weird season, the way we play, the way the team works.
But Spo is really trying to help me, and I'm really trying to help the team.”
Despite the ups and downs, the Heat believe in Jovic's potential. The 2022 first-round pick secured a four-year, $62.4 million contract extension in October, reflecting the team's faith in his abilities.
Jovic also emphasized the importance of mental well-being. “I'm happy every morning I wake up, I'm happy every time I go to sleep.
Basketball is something that I know I'm good at. Even though maybe some people think I'm not doing great this year…I feel like I'm not maybe the best version of myself…but I don't think it has anything to do with the mental side of things.”
The Heat's new offensive style, while initially successful with a 14-7 start, has seen the team settle into the middle of the pack. They average 119.6 points per game, ranking fifth in the NBA, and lead the league in pace. Jovic believes his struggles aren't solely due to the new system.
“I mean, it's a maybe, you really never know,” Jovic said. “The weird thing is, we talk about how better we look, but the reality is, we have the same record as last year. Maybe it's because of the offense, maybe it's because I'm not doing good enough right now.”
Jovic's focus is clear: “Help this team win as many games as possible. It feels weird always finishing in the play-in. We’re trying to get in the top six, where we don’t have to be in the play-in.”
With the Heat sitting at 29-27 and eighth in the Eastern Conference, Jovic is committed to helping the team climb the standings. The journey to a hopeful turnaround begins Friday against the Atlanta Hawks.