Nikola Jovic is not a good Heat player

Jovic says that he has met regularly with Coach Erik Spoelstra during the season. Coach Spoelstra asks him the open-ended, often used question by managers, “How can I help you?” Jovic believes sincerely that he just needs to play more minutes. He averages 3.5 rebounds per game. That is the problem and Jovic is “hitting a ceiling” with his development.

Rebounding, Rebounding, Rebounding

In an October article in the Sun-Sentinel, Coach Spoelstra couldn’t have stated it clearer:

“He’s got to rebound his size,” Spoelstra said. “And then he’s our best bust-out guy. So that leads to great action and flow going up the court. But he can’t be a wandering generality on the glass.”

It is not that Jovic doesn’t understand, he doesn’t get it. Jovic was mentored by Udonis Haslem on rebounding but it still hasn’t “turned on the lights” for him. Jovic believes that he is in the mold of Andrea Barngani and Danilo Galinari, not Vlade Divac or Nikola Jokic (better rebounders.)

Heat made a mistake extending Jovic

Jovic signed a four year, $62.4 million extension in October. This decision is going down similar to the contract extensions given to Tyler Johnson, Dion Waiters and Hassan Whiteside in 2018-2019. At the time, the NBA announced the extension as “a significant commitment to Jovic.”

Coach Spoelstra said that Jovic had become “more mature, more professional.” Jovic should act like a professional and bring up his reservations to the coaching staff. It is conceivable that Jovic is “trying to smile and be polite,” but hides his true feelings. A “true professional” would voice his reservations to Coach Spoelstra (see above Spoelstra “How can I help you?”) and offer possible recommendations and/or solutions.