Nikola Jovic will most certainly miss the Olympic Games in Paris this month due to an ankle ailment, according to European media outlets. The Miami Heat can only hope that the injury does not hinder his start to the NBA season.
Jovic emerged with a walking boot at the start of camp for the Serbian national team, but he was not immediately removed from the squad, as he was expected to be a part of Serbia’s power rotation after a successful second NBA season.
According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Jovic sustained an injury during a defensive closeout practice at Kaseya Centre last month. The Heat’s medical staff has diagnosed the injury as a metatarsal sprain, with no timetable for his recovery.
According to the Sentinel, the Serbian national team, not the Heat, will decide if Jovic is eligible to compete in the Olympics.
Jovic was left out of Serbia’s first Olympic warmup game and was dropped from his country’s travelling group for the remainder of their exhibitions in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Paris Games later this month. He will remain in Belgrade to rehabilitate.
For the Heat, the concern is that Jovic will miss the start of training camp or the NBA season.
Jovic, the 27th pick in the 2022 draft, improved in his second season and emerged as Miami’s starting power forward by the time the Heat made the playoffs. He averaged 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2 assists per 19.5 minutes. If Jovic stays healthy, he is anticipated to be Miami’s starting power forward next season.
If Jovic isn’t ready to start the season, the Heat will most likely choose between starting the smaller Haywood Highsmith and a larger lineup that includes Bam Adebayo and another centre, maybe Kevin Love or Kel’el Ware.
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