By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jovic is entering the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season with a renewed mindset after a turbulent 2025–26 journey with the Miami Heat.
Last year, the 23-year-old Serbian combo forward went from starting to losing his spot, and eventually falling out of Erik Spoelstra’s rotation entirely. This difficult stretch forced the young player to step back and re-evaluate his approach. “I kind of took some time off for the first time for myself,” he mentioned during team practice on Monday. “Just thinking about life, everything I went through and everything I learned.”
After a strong summer with the Serbian national team, tallying 20.0 points per contest over four appearances in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, Jovic noted real growth from his adversity. “I was thinking the wrong way last year,” he admitted. “I had to grow up a little bit and learn how to be a man and how to take actions for myself.”
Beyond mental adjustments, he focused heavily on his shooting rhythm. “I felt like I just had to get my shot right again,” he explained, referring to falling to 26.9% from deep in the 2025–26 season.
As Miami finishes their Preseason 2026 schedule against the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic, Swedish Pelle Larsson remains out with an illness. However, Spoelstra has plenty of European depth. Beyond Jovic to Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, alongside Italian shooter Simone Fontecchio and Russian big Vladislav Goldin. They open the Regular Season next Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Kaseya Center.
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