The Miami Heat are well-represented in EuroBasket 2025, with three players in uniform for three separate countries.
However, arguably the most important was fourth-year forward Nikola Jovic, who’s paired alongside three-time MVP Nikola Jokic for Team Serbia.
All eyes were on them in Wednesday’s afternoon opener against Estonia — and Jovic did not disappoint.
In 16 minutes, the 22-year-old scored a game-high 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. Yes, that’s right — he led all scorers in a game that involved Nikola Jokic! Who would’ve thought?!
The Heat wing also tallied four rebounds, six assists and one steal in Serbia’s dominant 98-64 victory. He did not play in the fourth quarter.
All in all, it’s very encouraging to see Jovic play well on an international stage right out of the gate.
Jovic hasn’t played more than 44 games in an NBA season due to injury or being out of the rotation completely.
And he wasn’t healthy for most of last offseason, dealing with a foot/ankle injury that significantly limited his playing time in the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Jovic got plenty of run alongside Bogdan Bogdanovic, but was relegated to an off-ball role with inconsistent ball-handling responsibility.
That wasn’t the case on Wednesday, immediately dialing it up offensively with 12 first-quarter points — scoring as much as Estonia did as a team the entire period.
He wasn’t as ignitable in his final two quarters. But overall, he functioned well as a downhill playmaker and spot-up shooter — both very encouraging. He still had his typical low release, but it was quick, compact and on balance; his playmaking and court awareness in the open floor was exactly where you’d want it to be; his play finishing was good; his defense was good.
All around, it was a very good performance from the 6-foot-10 wing, who could be vying for a starting job at the start of 2025-26. Keep stacking those days, Niko!
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I looked at all the EuroBasket line-ups. The Serbs are going to be one of the stronger teams. Maybe Germany and France will challenge. One dark horse is Turkey. I was surprised Spain had so few NBA talents.
Spain is building a new young team. Their results will be inconsistent. Serbia is the best team at the moment, Germany is also very good, they have a very experienced team. France, athough without Wemby, has a lot of young NBA players. Turkey is indeed a dark horse of the tournament.
Will be in the running for MIP this season if he stays healthy.
Very happy for Jovic. There is no doubt he is a key player for us.
OTOH, keeping it real, EuroBasket is not New York, New York, where if you make it there, you can make it anywhere.
Still, doesn’t mean he can’t make it either, and this experience will do a lot to get him ready for his chance.
Jokic: nice game kid, i could give you a ring in Denv.
Jovic: Heat got 4 already im taking my chances there…you can join us
and HHH live happily ever after haha!!