The Serbian star isn't happy about his inconsistent standing within the Heat this season.
Credit: AP/Scanpix nuotr.
Nikola Jovic has been frustrated over the sudden and inconsistent changes regarding his role in the Miami Heat.
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The Serbian forward voiced out his disappointment to Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang, but he insisted that he is still keeping his optimism amid decline.
“Last year, I was starting and then out of nowhere I'm not playing at all. And this year, too. You got to think about it. I started the first game, and the very next game I think I came off the bench as like a ninth man," he said.
"The way my minutes fall is really sad. I'm not trying to think about what they're thinking because I know it's hard for them, too. I’m just trying to stay positive and help these guys develop.”
Jovic is currently averaging 7.6 points on 39 percent shooting. These numbers are significantly lower than the 10.7 points in a 45.6 percent rate he tallied last season.
Following his career-high 29 points against the Portland Trail Blazers back on Nov. 8, Jovic's production and exposure took a major drop. He endured multiple DNPs and hasn't been active since his 12-point outing from last week against the Sacramento Kings.
This 2025-26 season serves as Jovic's fourth season in the NBA, as he notably signed a four-year, $62.4 million extension this past October.
Heading to their Monday matchup against the Toronto Raptors, Erik Spoelstra is determined to see how Jovic will prove himself to earn rotational minutes.
“He's been good the last three weeks, he's made some progress in focusing on what he can control, and that's his work, that's his approach, the consistency every day,” Spoelstra said. “Every player gets their opportunity at some point, and then you have to make the most of it, ideally where you've improved, ideally where you're impacting the scoreboard. And I want our guys to have to make me make decisions.
"And that's what I hope for [Jovic], that his play makes me have to play him more.”
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