After having to use… 35 different fives last year, Erik Spoelstra was stable this season. Until this trip to Minnesota where two new ones appeared: Haywood Highsmith to compensate for the absence of Jimmy Butler, and especially Kevin Love relaunched in place of Nikola Jovic.
The latter came off the Heat bench for the first time this season. His coach had pointed out the level of energy and effort to justify this choice. After several outings with 10 points or more to start, he had just posted more anecdotal performances.
Agree to come off the bench? “ It was difficult. Spo wanted to change the five. He told me to stay ready and I stayed ready. They told me to be myself and that’s what I did. I came into the game, I did what I do in transition, I helped on defense, I got some rebounds and that was it. It worked in this match “, he summarizes.
The latter, mobilized throughout the fourth quarter, not only equaled his best performance of the season (15 points on 6/11 shots and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes), he scored the winning shot on this sequence which trapped the Wolves.
Already back in the five?
« This is the norm now. I don’t want to go back, having to do things to get something from the players. He was very good tonight in terms of details, effort, rebounds », Lists his coach who therefore trusted his interior on this last action where he took advantage of a screen from Terry Rozier.
« It’s not just this action at the end of the match. They did such a great job pushing Terry away (Rozier) et Tyler (everyone) that we had no other elements to trigger. We got a rebound and Niko went up the field, sent a lob towards Bam (Adebayo), then he finished with a difficult layup in front (Rudy) Gobert », Describes the coach again, speaking of “ game karma ».
The 21-year-old is getting used to the idea that his coach is perhaps more demanding with him than with others. “ Being the youngest, I have to be the one to put on the intensity. I just had to show them I could do it and help this team win. You have to stay focused throughout the season. »
The whole challenge is to know if Nikola Jovic will regain his place in the major five tonight in Detroit. “ We move forward day by day, that’s the best thing today. I love seeing players develop character over the course of an NBA season. Now there’s something else going for him: Can he handle it with some success? It’s only one match, so this is his next challenge », retorts his coach.
| Nikola Jovic | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | To | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 15 | 14 | 40.6 | 22.9 | 94.7 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 5.5 |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 46 | 20 | 45.2 | 39.9 | 70.2 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 7.7 |
| 2024-25 | MIA | 9 | 20 | 45.3 | 34.4 | 75.0 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 8.7 |
| Total | 70 | 18 | 44.4 | 36.5 | 76.9 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 7.3 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
