Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic signed a four-year, $62.4 million rookie contract extension back in October, but the 22-year-old is already struggling in his fourth NBA campaign.
Nikola Jovic Experiencing Surprising Slump
Jovic was selected 27th overall by Miami in the 2022 NBA draft. He averaged a career-high 10.7 points last season but was limited to only 46 games after breaking a bone in his right hand on Feb. 23.
However, Jovic did return for the 2025 playoffs, appearing in all four games of a first-round loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 9.5 points and 18.5 minutes in the series.
The 6-foot-10 wing also recorded a playoff-career-high 24 points in Game 4.
Through 15 games (one start) this season, Jovic is averaging 8.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 20.6 minutes per outing while shooting a career-low 40% from the field and just 29.4% from 3-point territory.
More importantly, Jovic has recorded single-digit points in 11 of his 15 appearances, and he’s averaging a team-high 4.3 turnovers per 100 possessions this campaign.
“I’m not looking great,” Jovic told Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “I know that I’m not playing great basketball right now, and that’s the thing that bothers me for sure.”
Heat Continue To Win Amid Jovic’s Struggles
Despite Jovic’s early season struggles, the Heat are currently 13-7 (.650) and rank fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. Miami trails the New York Knicks (13-6) and Toronto Raptors (14-7) by just half a game.
“The most important thing for me is to win as many games as possible,” Jovic continued. “So even if I look bad, but we’re winning, I’m good with it. Since I came, other than the first NBA Finals run [in 2023], even that season we were kind of in between sixth and eighth place.
“And I’m just trying to get out of there. I’m just trying to help this team win. Right now, even though I’m looking bad and I’m not playing the way I know I can play, we’re still looking pretty solid.”
Jovic’s recent performances have also led to a diminished role.
He received his first DNP-CD (did not play, coach’s decision) of the season in Wednesday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks after missing the previous four games with a right hip impingement.
Injuries Have Impacted Jovic’s NBA Career
Although Jovic re-entered the rotation in Saturday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons, his struggles continued in his first game back, committing five turnovers in just 10 minutes of action.
When Jovic is not missing games because of an injury, he’s either underperforming on the court or riding the bench as an inactive player. At least the season is still young.
But even then, injuries are the one thing Jovic has dealt with throughout his entire career. While the Heat are a better team when he’s able to play at full strength, staying healthy has been an issue.
According to Basketball Reference, Jovic has played just 122 out of a possible 256 games with Miami. In addition to a hand injury last season, he was limited to just 15 games as a rookie due to back issues.
The Heat aren’t expected to field trade offers for Jovic, but that could change if his slump continues. Pat Riley knows when it’s time to move on from a player.
Jovic is now under contract with Miami through the 2029-30 season. The English standout is the only Heat player currently under contract beyond the 2028-29 season, per Spotrac.
