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Heat Extend Evolving Swiss Army Knife’s Contract

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Quenton S Albertie | Last updated Oct 1, 2025 8:56 PM ET

The Miami Heat are in high spirits, ready to redeem themselves individually and collectively after a calamitous 2024-25 season. With that being said, while basketball is currently the team’s primary focus, the business of the NBA never stops. On Wednesday night, the Heat signed Nikola Jovic to a four-year, $62.4 million contract extension, per ESPN senior insider Shams Charania.

One of last season’s standouts, Jovic averaged a career-high 10.7 points per game and shot 37.1% from 3 in 2024-25. However, while he provided steady offense (primarily from off the bench), he’s a multi-skilled hybrid forward who contributes as a defender, rebounder and playmaker. In other words, the UK-born Serbian is a Swiss Army Knife.

Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic has agreed to a four-year, $62.4 million rookie contract extension with the franchise, Jeff Schwartz, Sean Kennedy and Jared Mucha of Excel Sports Management tell ESPN. Jovic averaged a career-high 10.7 points last season as his Heat role elevates. pic.twitter.com/QWYw7nqxp7

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 1, 2025

Next season, Jovic will have an opportunity to build on the momentum he gained prior to his season-ending hand injury. Keep in mind that he averaged 12.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game for Serbia in EuroBasket 2025. Across those six games, he shot a piping hot 52.4% from 3-point range.

Training Camp Competition?

Even with Jimmy Butler having moved on to the Golden State Warriors, the forward competition will be steep.

May 25, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Miami Heat huddle before game five against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

With the arrival of Norman Powell, who wants to be in the All-Star conversation again (h/t Andscape’s Marc J. Spears), Andrew Wiggins will likely be the team’s starting small forward. After standing out as a rookie, Jaime Jaquez Jr. hit the dreaded sophomore wall, in large part due to injury. If he can carve out a consistent role next season, that could cut into Jovic’s usage.

Not to be forgotten is Simone Fontecchio, who could emerge as Bam Adebayo‘s primary backup at the 4.

Like Jaquez, Fontecchio didn’t play too well last season, albeit for the Detroit Pistons. Like Jovic, he was competing in this fall’s EuroBasket tournament, albeit for Italy. In six games, Fontecchio averaged 16.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest, shooting 38.5% from 3. If the 29-year-old’s 3-ball can remain on-target, he has the best chance of any of their forwards to replicate what Duncan Robinson provided for them.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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