A look back at Nikola Jovic’s 10-game run starting next to Bam Adebayo in Heat frontcourt
For 10 straight games in January, the Miami Heat started a frontcourt of Bam Adebayo and Nikola Jovic. But that pairing proved to be temporary.
The Heat has since moved to a different starting frontcourt anchored by Adebayo, as Jovic was pulled from the starting group during the the middle of Miami’s recent seven-game losing streak.
“We had a bad stretch, so things needed to change,” an understanding Jovic said ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup against the Orlando Magic at Kaseya Center. “We’ll see. I hope I get a chance again. I think coaches believe in me. I think they see how hard I work. So I think all that stuff will pay off at one point.”
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That 10-game stretch of Adebayo and Jovic is one that’s noteworthy, considering it marked their first extended stretch on the court together.
Adebayo, the Heat’s first-round pick in 2017, and Jovic, the Heat’s first-round pick in 2022, had played just 42 minutes together this season prior to their 10 straight starts. They also played just 76 minutes together last season when Jovic was a rookie.
But during Adebayo and Jovic’s 10-game run as the Heat’s starting frontcourt last month, the results were positive despite the team’s middling 5-5 record during this span. The Heat outscored opponents by a dominant 14.3 points per 100 possessions in the 163 minutes they played together in these 10 games.
“We can do versatile stuff,” Jovic said of playing alongside Adebayo. “He’s a good low-post player. I feel like I’m a good low-post player, too. Transition, wherever he is, you can find him. Cuts, I think I can find him. When he’s the low man, he can find me or I can find him.
“It’s easy to play with him, especially defensively, which I think is more important. Me and him can switch a lot and I think that also brings something. I think during that stretch when I played a little bit, I think we were actually pretty good defensively. I don’t know what the numbers say, but I think we were good, for sure.”
The numbers confirm Jovic’s statement, as the Heat allowed just 104.6 points per 100 possessions with Adebayo and Jovic on the court together during this 10-game stretch. That’s a defensive rating that would rank first in the NBA among teams for the season.
But Jovic’s defense remains a work in progress as a 20-year-old still filling out his frame and learning the NBA game after being drafted by the Heat with the 27th overall pick out of Serbia in 2022.
Instead, it’s Jovic’s combination of size and offensive skill as a 6-foot-10 and 240-pound forward that makes him an intriguing option to serve as Adebayo’s frontcourt partner. Jovic’s passing, ability to push the pace and potential as a three-point shooter at his size adds another layer to the Heat’s offense that coach Erik Spoelstra wanted to explore.
“The size and versatility,” Spoelstra said of what he likes about the Adebayo-Jovic frontcourt. “They’re both so versatile with their ball-handling, their play-making ability, their passing ability and that adds another dimension of unpredictability for our offense. Niko, you can play him with the ball in his hands. He can initiate offense for us. Or you can play him off the ball and he knows how to get into open spots or catch-and-go. Then his size also helps, particularly on the defensive end.”
During those 10 straight games in a starting role, Jovic averaged 6.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 37.3 percent from the field and 12 of 31 (38.7 percent) on threes.
Since falling out of the starting lineup, Jovic has also dropped out of the Heat’s rotation. He has logged a total of just eight minutes in two appearances in the seven games leading into Tuesday’s matchup against the Magic.
“I had my opportunity,” Jovic said. “I think I did alright. Of course, you always could do better.”
ALL-STAR NEWS
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young were named by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as injury replacements on the Eastern Conference team for the Feb. 18 NBA All-Star Game.
Barnes and Young replace Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, who are both out with injuries.
Adebayo remains the Heat’s lone All-Star this year.
INJURY REPORT
Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro will both be available for the Heat for Tuesday’s matchup against the Magic.
Robinson missed the past three games while in the NBA’s concussion protocol and Herro missed Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers with a migraine.
This means the Heat’s full contingent of rotation players will be available for just the second time this season on Tuesday. The first time came in the Heat’s Jan. 27 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The only two Heat players ruled out for Tuesday’s game are RJ Hampton (G League) and Dru Smith (season-ending knee surgery).
