Despite claims in European media that Miami Heat player Nikola Jovic has a fractured ankle and will most likely miss the Olympics for Serbia this summer, the Heat’s medical staff continues to describe the injury as a sprained left ankle and fractured toe. Jovic was hurt last month during an on-court workout at Kaseya Centre, which raised concerns when he was spotted using a walking boot on his left foot.
However, Jovic’s injury has improved, and the Heat expects him to be ready for the start of training camp on October 1, according to a league source. However, Jovic has not yet been medically approved by the Heat to compete in the Olympics, which begin later this month. While the Heat has not ruled out clearing Jovic before of the Olympics, a league source said Serbia’s national federation will make the final decision on his participation in the competition, even if the Heat clears him. “I’m doing great,” Jovic told European reporters last month when questioned about his ankle ailment.
“The injury I sustained is improving, and the swelling is almost gone. But we’ll wait a few more days for the control scan and then see how things go. “To be honest, I’m not sure if I’ll play in the Olympics, but I’m quite optimistic. If it continues to be severe and I am unable to prepare in time, it is stronger than me and I have no control over it.
Jovic, who turned 21 last month, finished his second NBA season as Miami’s starting power forward. He demonstrated his impressive combination of size and skill at 6-foot-10 and 205 pounds after becoming the Heat’s full-time starting power forward in February, averaging 9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game on 47.6 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent from three-point range while starting his final 26 regular-season games. Jovic, who is entering his third season on a rookie-scale contract, started all five playoff games for the Heat this season.
Jovic would be able to play with three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets in Serbia’s frontcourt in the Olympics. Instead, Jovic may be left to recover from an unlucky summer injury before the start of Heat training camp. Jovic, who was picked by the Heat with the 27th overall pick in 2022, missed most of his first NBA season due to a back issue. However, he only missed two games due to injury this season, with a strained right hamstring in March.
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