After experiencing a back-and-forth season with the Miami Heat and its G-League affiliate Sioux Falls Skyfalls in his rookie season, Nikola Jovic obtained increased minutes and showed significant growth in his second season. Since joining the Miami Heat, Jovic has made notable strides in various aspects of his game. Let’s dive into Jovic’s improvements last year and project his upcoming season.
Heat’s Nikola Jovic Showed Promising Growth Last Season and Is Poised for Further Progress
Nikola Jovic’s Rise in the 2023-24 Season
Jovic’s performance saw a noticeable enhancement with the Miami Heat in the 2023-24 season compared to his rookie year. With an increased 19.5 minutes of average playing time, he averaged 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, shooting 45.2% from the field and 39.9% from three-point range. In his rookie season, Jovic averaged 5.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game. Moreover, he was able to show up more in key games, including the Play-In Tournament and the first-round playoffs against the Boston Celtics.
The Serbian International player also developed his game in different aspects. One of the most notable areas of improvement for Jovic has been his three-point shooting. He raised his three-point shooting efficiency from 22.9% in his rookie year to 39.9% last season. This delightful improvement was accompanied by an increase in his three-point rate, with 58.0% of his shot attempts coming from beyond the arc.
Offensively, Jovic has become one of the Heat’s most connective players, often serving as a secondary creator. His effective field-goal percentage leaped up by 10.4% (from 46.4% to 56.8%), according to NBA’s Tracking Data. Additionally, he revealed his ambition to seize every mismatch in the low post this upcoming season, trying to boost the team’s offensive rating.
Jovic has also made significant strides in his defensive game. He has become more capable of defending multiple positions, showing improved discipline and the ability to make precise rotations. His defensive rebounding rate ranked fourth on the team at 21.3%, although his offensive rebounding rate was lower at 3.1%.
Jovic Speaks on the Upcoming Season
While discussing the upcoming season, the 2022 first-round pick from Serbia made a confident statement. Through the words he said to the Sun Sentinel, he is set to step up for further advancement and more responsibilities.
“I would say the biggest thing I was working on the most was when I’m working in the low post, when I have a smaller guy on me, I just have to punish them,” Jovic said to the Sun Sentinel. “That’s something I think will help our team a lot. So I would say that’s the main thing for me, other than still being able to spread the floor and everything I already did.”
Preview Nikola Jovic for the Upcoming Season
Thanks to the effort that he put into grinding all facets during the offseason, Jovic had earned the trust of head coach Erik Spoelstra and gained more opportunities to present in key games. His performance in the playoffs against the Celtics was also impressive, as he started all five games. He averaged 9.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game in that playoff series. With his minutes increasing from 19.5 (before the playoffs) to 25.6 per game. He remained focused and active throughout the summer. Jovic notably represented Serbia alongside NBA All-Star Nikola Jokic at the Paris Olympics, where the team ultimately secured a bronze medal.
Looking ahead to the 2024-25 season, Jovic is expected to continue his upward trajectory. Jovic finished 38 starts in the 2023-24 season. He also saw a considerable uptick in touches, going from 23.2 to 31.4, indicating a larger role within the team’s offensive schemes. Similarly, I believe Jovic is anticipated to be one of the few players playing with a larger role. He has the potential to be the starting power forward alongside Bam Adebayo. If he can maintain his health and continue to develop his game with more dynamics, Jovic would like to make a pivotal impact in the upcoming season.
