Heat forward shares major injury update amid 2024 Paris Olympics setback
Nikola Jovic has been dealing with an injury at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which the Miami Heat identified as a sprained left ankle and a fractured toe. However, after Serbia's victory against Puerto Rico on Wednesday, the promising forward shared a positive update about his health.
Jovic’s participation for Serbia in this year’s Olympics was in doubt due to his injury from last month, and he was even seen in a walking boot afterward.
Nevertheless, Jovic told The Associated Press' Tim Reynolds on Wednesday that he has been feeling "great," and the Heat coaching staff approved his participation in the Olympic Games:
“I’m doing great,” Jovic said. “I haven’t done a lot, but I really wanted to be with the team and Coach Spo and everybody from the front office was good with it.”
Jovic admitted he’s not yet in peak condition but added that adrenaline helps whenever he steps onto the court:
“The imaging was great. My foot looked great. Maybe I’m not in the best shape right now, but when you step on the court the adrenaline and everything brings the best out of me. I’ll do whatever I can to help this team win, and I’ll for sure be ready for the season,” Jovic said.
In Serbia's first game in group play, Jovic recorded five points, two rebounds, one assist, one steal and one turnover.
He played for 14 minutes and went 1-for-6 from the field, including 1-for-5 from 3-point range and 2-for-2 from the line.
However, Team USA defeated Serbia, 110-84. In the next game, Serbia defeated Puerto Rico 107-66.
In the second game, Jovic scored 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting, including 1-for-3 from 3-point range and 1-for-2 from the line. He also had three rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes of play.
Serbia's next game will be against South Sudan on Aug. 3.
Looking at Nikola Jovic's first 2 years with Miami Heat
Nikola Jovic was selected No. 27 overall by the Miami Heat in the 2022 NBA draft.
In his rookie year, he appeared in only 15 games, averaging 5.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 0.5 steals in 13.6 minutes per game. He shot 40.6% from the field and 22.9% from 3-point range.
His stats improved as his playing time increased last year. He averaged 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field and 39.9% from beyond the arc in 19.5 minutes per game over 46 appearances, including 38 starts.
Nikola Jovic is set for a bigger role with the Miami Heat, who lost Caleb Martin and Orlando Robinson, but added Alec Burks.
This offseason, the Heat secured extensions for Bam Adebayo, Thomas Bryant, Haywood Highsmith and Kevin Love.