Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) is guarded by Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) during the second half of a game on Nov. 10, 2025, at Kaseya Center in Miami. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic’s up-and-down NBA career continues.
There have been encouraging moments and some not-so-encouraging moments for Jovic during his first three NBA seasons.
That rollercoaster ride has continued to begin Jovic’s fourth NBA season, as he struggled in Wednesday night’s 130-116 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Kaseya Center. Jovic recorded two points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field and 0-of-3 shooting from three-point range while committing four turnovers in 22 minutes off Miami’s bench.
Jovic, 22, has totaled just 10 points on 4-of-16 (25%) shooting from the field and 1-of-8 (12.5%) shooting from three-point range in his last two games after scoring a career-high 29 points in Saturday’s home win against the Portland Trail Blazers. In fact, he has scored single-digit points in eight of the Heat’s first 12 games this season.
Among the next steps for Jovic is to find game-to-game consistency and string together quality performances after signing a four-year, $62.4 million contract extension with the Heat last month
“It’s about an intention, and a maturity, a professionalism all the time,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Wednesday when asked about Jovic’s inconsistent start to the season. “That’s what we’ve always been on him about. It’s not about his confidence. We pump him with confidence. But that’s usually what it is for young players. It’s not the new offense, that’s ridiculous.”
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) reacts to hitting a shot during an NBA preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs at Kaseya Center on October 8, 2025, in Miami. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
For Jovic, Spoelstra continues to emphasize approaching each game, practice and shootaround with the right intention and professionalism.
“When he plays with a force of will and an intention, and it’s always started with him and an approach every day,” Spoelstra continued, with the Heat (7-5) now heading to New York to face the Knicks (7-4) on Friday at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m., Prime Video) in its second of four NBA Cup group-play games that also count toward both teams’ regular-season record.
“To approach a practice day and a shootaround and a film session like it’s really important. He’s made improvements with that. It’s still not where it needs to be because he’s young, he doesn’t see that it’s always important. But he’s getting there, and then it’s a matter of consistency. But you can see the possibilities when he has that intention and when things are important to him.”
Jovic, who was taken by the Heat with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft, has high hopes for himself after averaging career highs in points (10.7 per game), assists (2.8) and minutes (25.1) last season and impressing with the Serbian national team during the EuroBasket tournament this past offseason. The Heat has high hopes for Jovic, too.
Through the Heat’s first 12 games this season, Jovic is averaging 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 41.8% from the field and 31.1% from three-point range. He also has been moved to a reserve role after playing as a starter in the season opener.
While Jovic’s laid-back demeanor sometimes frustrates Spoelstra, it’s also part of what makes Jovic the player he is. Spoelstra just wants Jovic to channel that part of his personality in a productive direction.
“Some of the things I’m just talking about are also his strengths,” Spoelstra said. “All of us, sometimes what your greatest strengths are, those things can be your greatest weaknesses. He has the size, he has the vision, he can deliver passes. He has this laissez-faire, like, ’Oh, whatever.’ He doesn’t feel pressure.
“That’s sometimes where it’s frustrating his head coach on a shootaround, and he’s just like going through the motions. But it’s that mentality that also gives him that fearlessness to make plays in the clutch. Because he’s not afraid of making the play. But he’s got all of those gifts. I always thought coming out of the draft, his best gift was his passing and his vision.”
INJURY REPORT
The Heat will remain without its leading duo of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro on Friday against the Knicks despite both players traveling with the team to New York.
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) looks on from the bench as his team plays against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half of their NBA game at Kaseya Center on Nov. 12, 2025, in Miami. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Adebayo will miss his fifth straight game because of a left big toe sprain and Herro has yet to play this season after undergoing left ankle surgery in September.
The Heat also ruled out Myron Gardner (G League), Terry Rozier (not with team) and Jahmir Young (G League) for Friday’s game.
The rest of the Heat’s roster is expected to be available against the Knicks.